Victory. Session 13 1 SAMUEL 30:6-8, Only God supplies a true and lasting victory.

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But David found strength in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, Bring me the ephod.

1 Session 13 Victory Only God supplies a true and lasting victory. 1 SAMUEL 30:6-8, David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, Bring me the ephod. Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? Pursue them, he answered. You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue. [...] 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they Date of My Bible Study: 131

2 had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, This is David s plunder. 21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David s followers said, Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go. 23 David replied, No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike. 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. Circle words or phrases that point to God s involvement in this situation. How was God in control in this story? FIRST THOUGHTS For sports lovers, seasons are defined by their respective sports. Fall is for football. Winter and spring are for basketball. Summer is all about baseball. There is a continual roller coaster of wins and losses, victories and defeats. Depending on the sport, fans can ride that roller coaster weekly, a couple of times a week, or daily. Ultimately, sports fans live in one of two worlds: my team is the best, or there s always next year. Winning and losing are a part of life. For just a moment, imagine what it would be like to experience lasting victory. Move beyond the realm of sports and look at life as a whole. What would it be like 132 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

3 to experience lasting victory over sinful habits, financial setbacks, church conflicts, or marital struggles? How would you define success for any sports teams or players for whom you cheer? Are winning and victory the same thing? Explain. Scripture provides incredible promises about the victory we have through Christ. We are more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37). We have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57). Sin will have no dominion over us (Rom. 6:14). All of those passages are encouraging. However, we are so accustomed to the cycles of victory and defeat that it s difficult to process sustained victory. In this session we re going to study a passage of Scripture that emphasizes how God alone brings true and lasting victory. In this biblical passage, David s camp was raided; possessions and family members were taken. David and his warriors wept until they had no strength. David prayed about their course of action, and God replied, Pursue them. You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue (1 Sam. 30:8). David and his men obeyed God, and the Lord brought an incredible victory. UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT 1 SAMUEL 27:1 31:13 David was no stranger to battle. He was accustomed to returning home from battle and hearing the shouts of celebration and victory (1 Sam. 18:5-6). For that matter, David was no stranger to raiding cities or dealing with the Amalekites (27:8). While living in the land of the Philistines (27:1), he raided so many cities that Achish, the king of Gath, nonchalantly asked, Where did you go raiding today? (27:10). David s headquarters for these raids was Ziklag, a city given to him by Achish, king of the Philistine city of Gath (27:5-6). The tables turned when David and his men reached Ziklag and discovered that the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. Session 13 : Victory 133

4 They had attacked Ziklag and burned it (30:1). While the city burned, the Amalekites kidnapped everyone in the city (30:2-3). The Amalekites didn t kill anyone, but they also didn t leave anyone (30:2). The city was destroyed. Families were torn apart. Possessions were stolen. When David and his men saw what had happened, they wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep (v. 4). It was clear that something needed to be done, but where do you begin when it seems like everything is lost? David s decision would impact himself, his family, his men, their families, and any future they might have together. Scripture reveals that David was a man of action. When wild animals threatened his flock, David brought the fight to the animals (17:34-35). When Goliath taunted the armies of the living God, David ran to the battle line to meet the giant (17:48). When Nabal disrespected David and refused provisions for his men, David immediately prepared his men for battle against Nabal (25:13). David was a man of action, but he was learning to be a man who first responded in prayer. When David prayed about their next step, God gave a direct answer: Pursue them (30:8). It was in response to God s answer that David acted. Therefore, it was in response to God s direction that David was victorious. This biblical narrative emphasizes that only God can bring sustained victory and hope. Winning is great; sustained victory is better. Daily struggles teach us to rely on God. It s in the struggle that we learn dependence. The more we learn to rely on the Lord, the more we experience sustained victory in every part of life. EXPLORE THE TEXT DECISION TIME (1 SAM. 30:6-8) VERSES David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, Bring me the ephod. Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? 134 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

5 Pursue them, he answered. You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue. Where were David and his men when Ziklag was under attack (1 Sam. 30:1)? According to 1 Samuel 27:1, David was living in the land of the Philistines because he was still running from Saul. While there, David found favor in the sight of Achish, the king of Gath (27:5). As the Philistines and Israelites were preparing for war against each other, Achish recruited David and his men to fight with the Philistines against Saul (28:1). When Saul observed the Philistine camp, he was frightened (28:5). He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not respond (28:6). In desperation, Saul sought help from a witch at En-dor (28:7). In that meeting, Saul was informed that the Lord had torn the kingship out of his hand and had given it to David (28:17). He also learned that tomorrow God was going to hand Israel over to the Philistines, and Saul and his sons would die (28:19). The next day, the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek (29:1). While military units were passing in review before the Philistine commanders, David and his men lined up behind Achish. The commanders questioned the presence of these Hebrews (29:3). They feared that David would turn against the Philistines in battle, side with Saul, and become a liability. Achish tried to defend David and his men, but to no avail. The next morning, David and his men were sent home to Ziklag (29:9-10). It was upon returning to Ziklag that they discovered the destruction of their city (30:1). David s men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. David told Abiathar the priest, Bring me the ephod. An ephod was a holy vestment worn by the priest, probably something like a vest. One would not normally seek a message from God from an article of clothing. It may be that David called for the ephod because attached to it was the breastpiece that contained the Urim and Thummim. These were objects that were used to seek an answer from God. Urim and Thummim are mentioned in only a few places in the Bible (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21; Deut. 33:8; 1 Sam. 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65), and no one knows what they looked like or how they worked. David used the ephod or more likely the Urim and Thummim in the ephod to ask if he should pursue the Amalekite raiders and, Session 13 : Victory 135

6 if so, would he overtake them. The Lord s response was clear: Pursue them You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue. The narrative portrays both Saul and David as men in crisis. Saul prayed, but the Lord did not answer him (28:6). David prayed, and the Lord answered him. When Saul consulted a witch, he was filled with fear and received a promise of death and destruction (28:19-20). When David inquired of the Lord, he found strength in the Lord his God and received a promise of success and blessing. David faced a situation that looked hopeless. His city was burned, his possessions were gone, and his family was taken. His own soldiers considered stoning him. With all of that, David found strength in the Lord. How does a crisis reveal a person s character? How does a crisis reveal who or what a person trusts and values? RECOVERED (1 SAM. 30:18-20) VERSES David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, This is David s plunder. Following the Lord s instruction, David and 600 of his men pursued the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:8-9). Due to exhaustion, 200 men remained behind when they arrived at Wadi Besor. David continued the pursuit with the 400 remaining men (vv. 9-10). While in pursuit, they found an Egyptian in a field (v. 11). After giving food and water to revive the Egyptian, they discovered that he was the slave of an Amalekite (vv ). In exchange for his life and protection from his former master, the Egyptian man agreed to lead them to the Amalekite camp (v. 15). When David and his men came to the camp, the Amalekites were scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling 136 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

7 because of the great amount of plunder they had taken (v. 16). Their celebration was short-lived. David and his men fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day (v. 17). The rescue and recovery mission was an incredible success. David and his men recovered everything the Amalekites had taken. Nothing was missing, and David brought everything back. The wording in these verses emphasizes the completeness of the victory. In fact, David s victory over the Amalekite army was so complete, that the Amalekite army did not attempt to come against Israel again until Hezekiah s reign ( B.C.; see 1 Chron. 4:43). As leader of the group, David was credited with the victory: David recovered David brought everything back he took. The use of the singular tense attributes the success to David. This concept is also emphasized by the people shouting, This is David s plunder. When Ziklag was destroyed, and everyone and everything was taken, David received the blame (1 Sam. 30:6). When the Amalekites were defeated and everyone and everything was returned, David received the credit. Consider how Saul might have responded in such a situation. Always eager for acclaim, Saul might have basked in the glory being heaped upon him. But because David knew the source of true and lasting victory, he deflected the people s praise and directed it where it belonged. In verse 23, David gave God the glory for the victory. What causes people to take the credit that God deserves? What could have been the result if David had taken the credit? Point to other biblical leaders to support your response. KEY DOCTRINE: Church Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ s people. Session 13 : Victory 137

8 VICTORY FOR ALL (1 SAM. 30:21-25) VERSES Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David s followers said, Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go. 23 David replied, No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike. 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. When multiple people come together to accomplish a specific task, there need to be divisions of responsibilities. Someone has to lead. Others need to follow. Specific skill sets make some people more suited for certain tasks. Extenuating circumstances can also influence job placement. That premise holds true of businesses, churches, sports teams, and even raiding parties. In this narrative, David gave 200 men the responsibility of remaining with the supplies because they were too exhausted to cross the valley (1 Sam. 30:10). Guarding the supplies does not leave much room for bragging. The other 400 men joined David and raided the Amalekite camp. While one task seemed more heroic than the other, each group had a specific task that served an important purpose. When David and the raiding party returned to the Wadi Besor after their victory over the Amalekites, they rejoined the 200 men who stayed with the supplies. In accordance with the customs of the times, David asked them how they were. However, all the evil men and troublemakers in the raiding party said, Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. These men who argued were greedy not only for the plunder but also for bragging rights. They wanted it to be known that they were better than the men who had been overcome by fatigue and stayed behind. 138 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

9 In a moment of great restraint, David called these corrupt men my brothers. He reminded them that the spoils of war were in their possession because the Lord had given the items to them. He said the Lord protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. Those who stayed with the supplies also played an important role. Returning to a burned city and discovering family members and possessions missing should have reminded these men of the importance of those who stay behind during battle. David made it clear that those who stayed with the supplies should share alike with those who went into battle. On that day, David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel. What analogy could you use to illustrate the actions taken by David in this passage? On what key point would you focus? Everyone enjoyed the victory. However, everyone did not have the same job. Collective efforts require different responsibilities. It s not uncommon for people to value their contribution as greater than the contribution of someone else. That type of comparison leads to division. When each person does what he or she is supposed to do, the whole group succeeds. This principle is clearly presented in the New Testament. Paul taught that every member of the body of Christ is uniquely gifted for service, and each individual part is necessary to the functioning of the church as a whole (1 Cor. 12). BIBLE SKILL: Use other Scripture to illustrate a Bible passage. Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 and summarize the principles Paul presented. In what ways do David s actions in 1 Samuel 30 serve as an illustration of what Paul was teaching in 1 Corinthians? Session 13 : Victory 139

10 IN MY CONTEXT God can be trusted to give direction in our lives. We can be thankful when God chooses to provide for our families. Every believer plays an important role in God s work and should be treated with equal dignity. Identify areas in your life where you need God s direction. How is God asking you to trust Him? Write a prayer asking for God to show you what to do, promising to follow His direction. List ways in which God has provided for you, including helping you gain victory over some struggle in your life. How does God s provision encourage you today? What can you do today as an act of thanksgiving for His faithfulness? As a group, identify the different ways group members serve in and through your church. How does each type of service contribute to the success of your church? Discuss as a group different ways each type of service can be celebrated and affirmed. MEMORY VERSE David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 140 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

SESSION 13. Victory. Only God supplies a true and lasting victory. DATE OF MY BIBLE STUDY: 131

SESSION 13. Victory. Only God supplies a true and lasting victory. DATE OF MY BIBLE STUDY: 131 SESSION 13 Victory Only God supplies a true and lasting victory. DATE OF MY BIBLE STUDY: 131 FOR SPORTS LOVERS, SEASONS ARE DEFINED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE SUCCESS FOR ANY SPORTS