Generous in Victory

Reflections on 1 Sam. 30:21-31

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works.
-- Titus 2:7a

The Egyptian led David and his men to the Amalekites who had raided their village. It was evening, and the Amalekites were celebrating their victories with drunken revelry. David led the attack against them, and the battle raged for a whole day. In the end, they saved the lives of all their families, recovered their own possessions, and took an enormous amount of additional plunder. Despite the victory, trouble was brewing.

CREDIT WHERE DUE. When David returned after the victory to the men who had remained at the brook Besor, certain troublemakers among his soldiers wanted to cut the quitters loose and send them away. The troublemakers wanted to take all the credit for themselves and destroy the group that David had assembled, but David did not let them (1 Sam. 30:22). First, he gave credit to God. The plunder was the gift of God, and God had both protected them and given them victory (v. 23). Second, he gave credit to those who stayed behind. Even though they did not participate in the battle itself, they had protected the supplies that were left behind while pursuing the enemy (1 Sam. 30:24). Accordingly, it was appropriate to share both the joy and the blessings of God with those who stayed behind. David did not allow wicked men to bite and devour one another. David maintained a spirit of unity and a bond of peace.

FRIENDS REWARDED. David still had enemies in Judah. Recall that several towns in Judah had either been ungrateful or spiteful toward David. Among them were Keilah (1 Sam. 23:12), Ziph (1 Sam. 23:19), Maon (1 Sam. 23:25), and Carmel (1 Sam. 25:2). Though these had forced him to flee Judah, David also had those in Judah who had befriended him while fleeing from Saul (1 Sam. 30:26-31). At his first opportunity, David acknowledged and strengthened them. Among them were the inhabitants of Hebron where he would soon be proclaimed king over the whole tribe of Judah. Godly leaders are grateful to all who help them.

David showed himself a godly example to his men not only in recovering from tragedy and in pressing the attack during battle, but also in being generous in victory. Just as God permitted the Israelites to keep the plunder from Ai after devoting all of the initial plunder of Jericho to destruction (Josh. 6:17-18; 8:2), so God allowed David to keep and distribute plunder from the Amalekites though the initial plunder taken by Saul was to have been devoted to destruction.