Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of 1 Samuel 30 - 31
by Max Frazier, Jr.

We close this week our study in 1 Samuel, focusing upon chapters 30 and 31. Chapter 30 focuses upon David's victory over Amalek, while chapter 31 records the death of Saul and his sons.

I. Ziklag captured by the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:1-2)
II. Distress in the lives of the men (vs. 3-6)
III. David defeats the Amalekites (vs. 7-20)
IV. David reconciles some bad feelings (vs. 21-25)
V. David sends gifts (vs. 26-31)

I think David was slowly beginning to recover that precious idea that God was watching over him. God had just provided David a way of escape from joining with the Philistines in battle against Israel. Now, just as he began to draw strength from the Lord, his own men appeared to turn against him. In the past David might have been tempted to take matters into his own hands, to try to resolve this problem with his own efforts. There was no need for feigning insanity this time. There was no reason to run again. God was back in the center of David's life and his confidence in God was being restored. The time of spiritual famine was over. Once again God had become more real. Oh may that truth which David discovered in verse 6 be my discovery as well: But David found strength in the Lord his God.

In verses 23-25, David rebukes his men for failure to have a heart to share all that God had given to them. Those who had remained behind with the supplies were to be rewarded the same as those who bore the heat of the battle. This reminded me of the parable Jesus told in Matthew 20:1-16 about the land owner who gave the same pay to those who worked only one hour as to those who worked all day. David understood that everything belonged to God. Really everything we have is a gift from Him. We are not to horde it for ourselves or grumble when others seem to have more. We are to share what God has given to us with others. In fact, according to verse 25, David made this part of the law of the land. We should at least make it the law of our hearts.

I. Death of Saul (1 Samuel 31:1-6)
II. Israelites flee (vs. 7)
III. Philistines revel in Saul's death (vs. 8-10)
IV. Saul and his sons buried (vs. 11-13)

What a tragic ending for a man who had such a promising beginning! Saul died by his own hand - a defeated king. The man who disobeyed God's commands because he feared the people, died leaving the people in fear. Ironic, isn't it? Oh the dangers in listening to the voices of the people. They often clamor for the needs of the moment. As leaders we need to be in tune with the needs of the eternal. Saul had received his marching orders from God, but soon yielded to the wishes of the people. That day he died as God's King. Years later, upon the Mountain of Gilboa, he died as the people's king. What a sad journey! What a life not to emulate!

Lost in the story of Saul's death is the deed of kindness rendered by the men of Jabesh Gilead. When they heard of the outcome of the battle and King Saul's death and the abuse the Philistines had done with his body, they went into action. They remembered when this very same Saul, in his first act as king, had come to their rescue and had delivered them. That act of kindness was now to be repaid. We never know how an act of kindness will impact other, and it may even be returned to us. To quote the proverb: cast your bread upon the waters, and it may return to you with peanut butter and jelly.

1Samuel 28-29 Return to the Table of Contents