Lessons from the Life of David - Chapter 12
The Fruits of the Spirit 3
Today we will look at two further examples of David acting in kindness and showing compassion to others. The first of theses is recorded in 1 Samuel chapter 30. David, his followers and their families were living in Ziklag, a town which King Achish, a Philistine ruler, had given to David. While David an his men had left Ziklag to fight in a battle with enemies of Achish, another enemy of David, the Amalekites, burning Ziklag to the ground, carrying off much spoil, including David's loved ones. His home was burnt, his wives and children were taken captive. His people were discouraged and spoke of stoning him. David had been immensely popular, but popularity can be a fickle thing and cannot always be relied upon. Directly David's success failed, popularity waned. Let us remember the crowd that shouted praises to Christ one day, shouted "crucify him" the next. On his discovery of all that had happened, David was understandably greatly distressed, but as ever he knew what to do.
In Psalm 18, written about this time, he says, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust." Ziklag may have been utterly destroyed, but he has a better stronghold in his God. He says further, 'In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried unto my God: He heard my voice. This is the experience of all who have ever put God to the test.
David in this experience, would teach us how to act in trouble. We observe firstly: He did not restrain his grief - he wept until he had no more power to weep. Tears can bring relief and are a good way of showing loving and tender sympathy, but faith rises above the tears and acts wisely. Secondly: David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. He remembered God's love - this is the way all the saints have strengthened their hearts in sorrow. He remembered that God never changes. David had proved God often in his life - someone has said, 'His love in time past forbids me to think He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink. He knew that his God was very gracious, so because I have made a mistake, that is no reason for thinking that God will not help me to recover. God loves to help his saints to recover from their failings.
We note further that David sought for guidance. He called for Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod. This was one of the priestly robes. It is described in Exodus chapter 28 verses 6 to 30 and was worn by the high priest of the Lord. Wearing this the priest, speaking for David, enquired of the Lord; "Shall I pursue the enemy?" The Lord answered, "Pursue and you will recover all." As David and his followers pursued them, they found in a field an Egyptian who had been wounded and had been left to die without food and drink. He was brought to David and was given water to drink and food to eat, for he had had nothing for three days and nights. David asked him to whom he belonged. The man answered, "I am the slave of an Amalakite. I became ill and my master abandoned me. We had been raiding and we burned Ziklag." David asked, "Can you lead me to this raiding party?" He did and when David's men came upon them they were partying and revelling. After some twenty four hours of fighting, David outfought them and recovered everything they had taken, including his wives, his children and his livestock.
We discover in this incident something of David's kindness and compassion towards this poor Egyptian slave. Surely here is the picture of the sinner in desperate need of God's deliverance, and we are reminded of the Saviour's words, "The Son of Man is come and to save what was lost." We notice that David's men gave bread, reminding us of the bread of life which Jesus brought and which sinners receive by faith in Him. He was given water, reminding us of the water of life received after conversion and the fruit of the vine in the raisons he was given, speaking of the joy experienced by all who feed upon the Lord.
In 2 Samuel chapter 9, we have a second example of David's love, kindness and compassion. There we read the story of Mephibosheth, the son of David's greatest friend, Jonathan. He had been crippled as the result of an accident when he was but four years old. David had asked his servants one day if there was anyone left in the house of Saul to whom he might show a kindness. He was told about Mephibosheth and immediately directed his servants to find him and bring him to his palace. On arrival his David cried out, " Mephibosheth!" The young man replied, "Your servant!"
"Don't be afraid," David said, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather, Saul, and you will always eat at my table." Mephibosheth bowed his head and said, "What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me." Later, we are told that Mephibosheth and his family were sent for and they became David's guests also.
This heart touching story reminds us of God's great kindness to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. As sinners deserving God's judgement for our sins we, like this crippled man, were helpless and lost. But the love of God rescued us and through faith brought us also to be treated as sons and daughters of the King of Kings. For our spiritual growth and development, we sit daily at God's table by His grace.