56 The Amalekites Attack Ziklag

At the end of the previous chapter, after the Philistine king Achish advised David that he and his sin hundred men would not be allowed to participate in the Philistine impending battle against Saul’s army, David and his men began a three-day journey back to their Philistine home at Ziklag.

While David and his followers were most likely confused, and possibly even disappointed that they hadn’t been allowed to engage in the battle, they were probably anticipating returning to their families back in Ziklag.

Unfortunately, while David and his followers were away from the town, the Amalekites had raided and destroyed the town:

1 The Amalekites Attack Ziklag

1 Samuel 30:1-2

Even though at one time Ziklag had been one of the Philistine fortified cities, it still required individuals to man the watchtowers and the gates in the city wall. With David and all the men having gone off to prospectively enter the battle alongside the Philistines, that meant that no one was left to guard the fortifications at Ziklag. Therefore, it became far more susceptible to attack, such as that from the Amalekites.

Though the author began verse 1 with the phrase “Now it happened…” we shouldn’t look upon what took place as happenstance.

The unseen hand of God was still actively involved in the events taking place, especially as they affected His people.

The actions of the Amalekites (taking advantage of an guarded city) is much like the way Satan acts, as he and his demons are always looking for the areas of weakness within a believer’s life:

1 Peter 5:8

But despite the tragic events at Ziklag, God’s unseen hand was still evident, as even though all the women and children in Ziklag had been taken captive, none were killed:

1 Samuel 30:2

Much in the way God protected His people on other of the several occasions they were taken captive, the Lord did the same with the families who had been taken captive from Ziklag.

2 David’s Distress

When David and his men arrived at Ziklag, they found the city had been burned, and all their families were missing:

1 Samuel 30:3-6

David an his men wept so much, that verse 4 stated the men no longer had the power to weep.

Each of David’s men had made the conscious and wrong decision to leave their homeland (the land God had given His people) and to attach themselves to a pagan king. Now they (and their families) were experiencing the consequences of their wrong choice.

Therefore, not only was the unseen hand of God in action, but God was enacting “tough love” upon His people, and He was teaching them a very difficult lesson.

Meanwhile, David’s men were so distraught, that they discussed stoning David. After all, they’d followed him, and had resettled in a foreign (and enemy) land, but not only had they made such an incredible move, they brought their families with them.

However, one of the best portions of Scripture in the chapter, is found in verse 6, as “David strengthened himself in the Lord”:

1 Samuel 30:6

For the first time in the eighteen months David was in Philistia, it is recorded, that David called upon the Lord.

The Lord was using “tough love” to bring David (and His people) back to Him. And he does the same thing today, at times He will do whatever is necessary to bring His wayward people back to Himself.

3 Direction from the Lord

While it had been a long while since David had called upon the Lord and asked direction, it shouldn’t be surprising that God answered him:

1 Samuel 30:9-15

After man months of making his own decisions, David finally enquired of the Lord, asking whether he should pursue those who had committed the actions in Ziklag.

The Lord not only answered David but assured him of complete success.

Upon receiving those words of assurance, David and his six hundred men began the journey from Ziklag to the land of the Amalekites.

However, by the time they got to the Besor Brook, two hundred of the men were so exhausted that they were unable to complete the trip, and therefore stayed behind, while David and four hundred pursued the Amalekites.

On their way, the encountered a young Egyptian man, who said he’d been the servant of one of the Amalekites.

He’d also been part of the company which raided Ziklag. However, he was left behind when he’d become sick. David enquired as to whether the man could lead them to where the Amalekite raiders were. The man agreed to do so if David swore that he would neither kill him or turn him over to the Amalekites.

But the major theme of this portion of the chapter, is that the Lord was protecting and blessing His people.