1 Samuel 30

While the lords of the Philistines were prohibiting David from going out to battle with them, the Amalekites were making a raid against Ziklag. They burned down the city and carried away all the people, including David's wives.

David and his men wept bitterly, and the men began to turn against David. Where would David go for strength when it appeared that everything was taken away from him? “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

Then David consulted the Lord in order to know what to do. Yes, he should pursue the band that had captured their families. Yes, he would overtake them and rescue them.

David found unexpected help from an Egyptian slave who had been abandoned in a very weak condition by his Amalekite master. The Lord used this man to lead David and his warriors to the celebrating raiders. God gave David an astounding victory that day. All the people that had been captured were recovered alive, and they left that place with all their possessions and with these words on their lips: “This is David's spoil.”

Some of David's men wanted to deny a share of what had been recovered to those who stayed behind to guard whatever supplies they had. David insisted on a better plan. The victory was the Lord's. The Lord had preserved their lives and given them back their loved ones and belongings. All would share, whether they went out to battle or stayed back with the baggage. They were one body, and the victory belonged to the Head of that body, the Lord, and to His chosen servant David.

Even the leaders of Judah would be drawn into the celebration with this message from David: “Here is a present from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord.” The years of David's roaming were almost over. What threatened to end with disaster on every side had suddenly turned to a victory with so much blessing that there was enough to share with everyone.

What a blessing the Son of David has won for us, even a renewed heaven and earth and eternal life in a realm without sin. All of this has come to us from God, and from the Son of God's death for us on the cursed cross. He will distribute the bounty of his matchless achievement, and the whole body of Christ will be blessed according to the mercy of our magnificent King.