Back to GraceNo Strength to Weep
1 Samuel 30
In 1 Samuel 30, David returns to Ziklag, finding only ashes and his family taken. David and his men weep until they have no more strength to weep, and so begins the story of God’s mercy and deliverance.
When we come to the end of ourselves, God’s mercy restores.
1. God’s mercy strengthens through His Word (1 Samuel 30:1-9).
In God’s providential strengthening, David is brought to the end of himself. He returns to Ziklag just after the Amalekites have finished raiding. Unbeknownst to David, we are informed in the narrative that, according to God’s merciful plan, those taken captive have not been killed.
Utterly devastated, David is brought to the lowest point of his recorded life so far, yet God is with him.
Though his own men turn on him and even speak of stoning him, David is not deserted or forsaken by God. He realizes his need and strengthens himself in the LORD his God by turning to the Word of God. David finds God’s Word through Abiathar the priest and the ephod.
Obeying God’s Word settles and strengthens. Exactly as the Lord commands, David pursues the Amalekites. The men angry with David are also settled and strengthened by David’s obedience to God.
Like David, we need the strengthening of the Lord, and we find it in His Word which is living and active, redemptive and saving. God’s Word is the source of our strength.
2. God’s mercy delivers through His providence (1 Samuel 30:10-19).
God uses the strong and the weak to accomplish His purposes. The strengthening He supplies is not bound by human means.
Two hundred of David’s men are too exhausted to carry on and remain behind. With his remaining men, David finds a sick Egyptian slave of the Amalekites to whom he shows mercy. This abandoned slave leads them to the Amalekites.
Though providence often works through human weakness, providence is never weak. Demonstrating His great power, God gives David a disproportionate and decisive victory over the Amalekites. David and his 400 men slaughter all but 400 Amalekite young men who escape.
God keeps His Word, allowing David to recover everyone and everything the Amalekites had taken and bring it all back.
3. God’s mercy transforms us for the good of His people (1 Samuel 30:20-31).
As David grows closer to the Lord, the people around him benefit, being able to taste and see the mercy and goodness of God. However, the wicked and worthless men among those who have fought alongside David are exposed by this same mercy.
While God has been merciful and gracious to these men, delivering the Amalekites into their hands, they in turn are only merciless to their fellow countrymen.
David recognizes God’s mercy and grace. He recognizes that the victory is the Lord’s and that everything given in battle is a gracious gift from Him.
Being indebted to God’s mercy, David freely gives mercy to those men who were unable to continue and establishes from that day forward an ordinance for Israel.
Mercy extends beyond the battlefield. David sends gifts to those who have extended mercy and refuge to him and his men the different times they were evading Saul. David demonstrates the kind of rule that pleases God.
We have a greater champion in Jesus Christ who paid our sin debt and had the victory over death. Submit to Him and be strengthened by the Word of God.
Because of God’s great love and our debt to His mercy, may we be compelled to be loving, merciful people who love God and obey Him, who serve and give selflessly, putting others first.
Application Points
- Where do you turn for help when you need reviving and wisdom? God’s Word is the source of your strength and is all sufficient.
Tools for Further Study
Cross References to Explore
- Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119
A Hymn to Encourage: “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word; just to rest upon his promise, and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust his cleansing blood; and in simple faith to plunge me ’neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease; just from Jesus simply taking life and rest, and joy and peace.
Words by Louisa M. R. Stead; Public Domain