03/26/2019

 Samuel 30:23-25

²³ But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. ²⁴ Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” ²⁵ And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

David establishes himself as one of the great geniuses of history; government, music, poetry, military, philosophy, theology—and here he demonstrates that same aptitude in ethics.  His sense of fairness is impeccable and there seems to be nothing political or personal motivating him.  This was the right thing to do and he did it.

There are certain truths that we can learn in this story.

1.      Good and bad will be mixed in our experience.  cf vs 22.  Bad guys can be a part of a good cause.

2.      All do not have the same strength and the same gifts.  And in God’s service it is wise to recognize this.  cf vs 24

3.      God’s laws are prone to find a long life. cf vs 25

4.      There has always been a need to protect the weaker members from those who are stronger.  It is nature not grace for the stronger members to assert their greed.

5.      The person with spiritual discernment always sees God’s grace as the grounds of every victory.  cf vs 23

Note that the basic law of the greedy “to the strong belong the spoils,” is denied by David.  Grace reigns!