Basic HTML Version
David’s Heavy Trial
441
and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he
become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to
his master, if not with the heads of these men? Is this not David, of
whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his
thousands, and David his ten thousands?’” They did not believe that
[349]
David would fight against his own people. In the heat of battle he
could inflict greater harm on the Philistines than all of Saul’s army.
Achish, calling David, said, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have
been upright. ... For to this day I have not found evil in you since the
day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you.
Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease
the lords of the Philistines.” Thus the trap entangling David was
broken.
After three days’ travel David and his band of six hundred men
reached Ziklag, their Philistine home. But a scene of desolation met
their view. The Amalekites had taken revenge for themselves for
David’s invasions into their territory and had surprised the city while
it was unguarded. They stripped and burned it and departed, taking
all the women and children as captives, and many stolen items.
In horror and amazement, David and his men stared silently at
the smoldering ruins. Then as a sense of their terrible loss burst
upon them, those battle-scarred warriors “lifted up their voices and
wept, until they had no more power to weep.”
Here again David was reaping the sad results of his lack of
faith that led him to place himself among the enemies of God and
His people. David’s followers turned on him as the cause of their
calamities. He had angered the Amalekites by his attack against
them; yet, too confident of security in the midst of his enemies,
he had left the city unguarded. Maddened with grief and rage, his
soldiers threatened to stone their leader.
David’s Great Temptation to Discouragement
All that David held dear on earth had been swept away from him.
Saul had driven him from his country, the Amalekites had plundered
his city, his wives and children had been made prisoners, and his
friends had threatened him with death.