1 Samuel 30:9-10 But Mark This!

 ”So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭30‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So David went: God told David to go and pursue them, and David did exactly that. Obedience to the LORD is often that simple.

b. He and the six hundred men who were with him: David’s men were almost at a place of mutiny against him (the people spoke of stoning him, 1 Samuel 30:6). But now since he strengthened himself in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6) and since he inquired of the LORD (1 Samuel 30:8) and since he did what God told him to do, his men are totally back on his side.

i. David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him implies that David said, “Men, I’m going. I have a promise from God for victory, and I’m going to believe it. It doesn’t matter if you come with me or not, because God is on my side, and if I have to beat the Amalekites all by myself, God’s promise will not fail.” Such faith stirred the hearts of the six hundred men, and they went with David.

ii. It was a magnificent sight – David and the six hundred men on the march again, this time not hoping to fight for the Philistines or for themselves, but off again on a mission from God. There wasn’t an army on earth that could beat David and his six hundred men when they walked in God’s will.

c. For two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor: This might have discouraged David. As he pursued a significantly larger Amalekite army, he found that one-third of his men couldn’t continue. But David didn’t let this trial stop him. He set the one-third to work guarding the supplies, lightening the load of the 400 who continued, and he set out again, full of faith.

i. “But mark this, he was not delivered without further trial…. Many a leader would have given up the chase with one out of three of his troop in hospital, but David pursued with his reduced force. When God means to bless us, he often takes away a part of the little strength we thought we had. We did not think our strength equal to the task, and the Lord takes away a portion even of the little power we had. Our God does not fill till he has emptied. Two hundred men must be rent away from David’s side before God could give him victory…. Expect then, O troubled one, that you will be delivered, but know that your sorrow may yet deepen, that you may have all the greater joy by-and-by.” (Spurgeon)

(Guzik)

But Mark This!

“Our God does not fill till he has emptied.”! (Spurgeon)

“Yet to be filled with His power and shine His glory requires an emptying–a pouring out of ourselves, to make room for Him. And this pouring, well, it is often in the form of self-denial, surrender, and even brokenness. It is in the weakness of our own despair that our emptiness makes a hollow space, a space in us to be filled with Him. It is in the emptying that we relinquish our control and surrender to God, for Him to have His will and way.” (Jacque Watkins)

Have you surrendered to God?

Blessings