Dividing the Spoils: 1 Samuel 30:21-30
God’s gift is open to all people, but you must participate to benefit. This isn’t works-based-salvation. This is reality. If we receive God’s grace, our response is allowing ourselves to be used by God.
After the battle, David and his men return home along the same route, collecting the men they left earlier. A dispute among them starts. Should the people who stayed behind benefit?
Examine the Bible’s description for those opposing David’s position. They are wicked and worthless. The warriors who wanted to restrict the reward are wicked and worthless.
Care needs to be taken. It is easy to take this passage and declare that all people get a share, whether they earned it or not. In today’s American culture, this sounds like support for socialism. David, and God, are not attempting to support an everyone-shares-equally policy.
The two hundred left behind still initially came out with David. They were a part of David’s team. They bought into the system. They were willing to fight; they just needed rest.
Time was important. Instead of waiting, David divides his force and takes those ready to fight and leaves those who weren’t. However, when David divides his force, he leaves their supplies with those staying behind. That’s why David makes the comment about guarding the baggage.
David turns the tiredness of those who couldn’t continue into an advantage. Weight slows armies down. David needed to move fast to catch the Amalekites. Thus, the soldiers who went to fight only brought what they needed. They could move even faster.
The two hundred staying behind served a purpose. They were active participants who lighten the burdens of the others, making their job easier. They certainly aren’t the heroes; they didn’t put their life on the line in battle. That doesn’t mean they were unwilling, just unable. They would do so in the future and had done so in the past.
David makes a great point. God’s grace comes upon us all; none of us deserve it. All those who are a part of God’s family share in God’s grace.
David even gives provision to others in Judah! These are people who helped him survive as a rebel. They may have given provisions, protected him from Saul’s spies, or even hid him in their territory. They may not have fought that battle, but they still played their part.
David doesn’t share supplies with the Canaanites, even though their people were raided by the Amalekites. The Philistines do anything. Many of the raided Philistines were led by the very generals who told Achish restrict David in the first place! They played no part with David, they shouldn’t receive any of the spoil.
None of us can earn God’s love, it is a gift. However, only those who are a part of God’s family will ultimately benefit from His love. God’s gift is open to all people, but you must participate to benefit.
