Looking after the stuff

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 3 AUGUST 2025 AM - MR CALVIN STRIPP

1 SAMUEL 29 VERSE 8 - 1 SAMUEL 30 VERSE 10, 21 TO 25

"For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike." verse 24

Fearing the threats of Saul and failing to fully trust the Lord, David and his men sought shelter with the Philistines, Israel's enemy - chapter 29. Whenever Achish asked David to stay back from the battle, David was certain he would engage in the battle against the Israelites. He fled to that country and now he found himself in a predicament. Yet in this God providentially intervenes and steps into the situation. A difficult situation which could have become catastrophic. He steps in to prevent David going to war against his nation. By God's grace David is saved from raising the sword against his fellow brethren. As he returns to a different part of the Philistine country, to Ziklag where his wives, children and belonging are. As he approaches he sees the smoke. The place has been plundered by the Amalekites. We read that none were slain - verse 2. This is very important because the Amalekites were not known for their graciousness. There were a brutal people who engaged in war. The God of grace has overtaken the Amalekites in respect of not murdering any of these woman and children. it would have been quite a trophy to have put David's wives to death as well as the wives of his army but they took them captive. As we come into this chapter my focus today is on some of his army. As these 600 men travelled toward Ziklag he saw the city burned by fire. They raised their voices in lament in regard to having lost everything. Out of 600 men 200 felt faint and could not go on. Look at those 200 men and they are caring for the stuff. Verses 3 to 6 people lifted up their voices and wept. David's 2 wives were taken captive. We have the concern of David's army. Things were difficult. You can image these men having travelled into Philistia and then moving from the proposed battle with their brethren they travelled back to Ziklag. The devastation they find at this point through the Amalekites. The people raised their voices against David, they spake of stoning him. This was their captain, their leader, the future king of Israel. How did David handle this encounter? 600 men against him - verse 6 "but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." Let us not underestimate this. David was about to die from a human perspective. These men are looking about for stones to stone him but again we see the providence of God. He intervened. That word "encouraged" in the Hebrew means to fasten on to, to fix oneself to. Although his men were against him, his wives had been taken and he is grieving for them, through the midst of this trial he fixed himself upon his God in this encounter. We learn a lot from his actions. Very often in the times of distress and adversity, when everything is against us, we acknowledge our total dependence upon God. God brought David to an end of himself. He was about to lose his life but he encouraged himself in the Lord. He didn't run from the Lord at this point. He turned and embraced the Lord. He put his faith in God. This encounter was extreme yet he fixed himself upon God. What an example David is to us. When trouble, difficulties and catastrophes come how easy it is to become overwhelmed. At times as a Christian in sorrow and grief these experiences these dark providences are very real to us. They attack the head and the heart. Emotions are in turmoil. Let us encourage ourselves in the Lord. These 200 men would have seen this. Some were involved in lifting the stones yet they would have seen that David encouraged himself in the Lord. David took hold of the situation and sought the direction that these men had gone in. When we are overcome, overwhelmed let us set our hearts on the Lord so we can see his direction under that dark providence. We can make some wrong decisions, knee jerk reactions and find ourselves in more trouble. The early context - he went in to the Philistines, got friendly with them, then he was going to go into battle against his own people but God stepped in. 

The experience - verse 10 "But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor." 200 stayed by the brook. We are not told why they were so faint. Maybe it was the pressure of the circumstances pressing in on them. God had saved them from the battle against their own brethren then when they returned to Ziklag and realised the catastrophe that everything was gone they were so badly affected. When they came to this brook they were faint. Notice it was not a river nor an opening into the ocean but just a simple brook. Such a small place to march across at this point but they couldn't do it. They were so faint that this is where they stayed. Not just one soldier or 20 soldiers or 50 soldiers but 20 of David's men. They couldn't go over that brook and they sat while the other 400 marched across and went into battle. The brook Besor means in our English 'cheerful.' They couldn't go over the brook so they stayed there. They couldn't go any further. The application for us - look at Matthew 9 verse 2 and the healing of the man with leprosy. Jesus dealt with the sins first then his suffering. He was told "Son be of good cheer arise." At times sickness and suffering can get on top of us. 400 went on but 200 couldn't. They sat by the brook Besor. Maybe today there is something bothering you. You are not cheerful. You cannot cross over the brook. Is there a temptation or some sin that needs to be repented of? The Lord says to you today "son be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee." Repent of your sin, fix your eyes on him and cleave to him. In Matthew 14 verses 26 and 27 the disciples saw a vision of someone not realising it was Christ himself - he told them "be of good cheer it is I do not be afraid." There was the unknown in front of them. These were hardened fishermen but had never seen anything like this before. They cried out to Jesus who immediately spoke to them and told them not to be afraid. Don't be afraid of the unknown. Some of us are facing the unknown today and are afraid. You have never been here before at this unknown place but here you are at the brook of Besor. You cannot cross over because of the circumstances of the unknown in front of you, they have paralysed you. Your Saviour comes alongside to say to you "be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid." I hold that providence in my hand as he holds you in his hands. Although you don't understand the circumstances, the unknown but his love is enveloping you as his child. John 16 verse 33. The circumstances of life overtook David and his men. The circumstances of life can sometimes overtake the Christian. It is a curveball. At the last moment it just turns and hits you. Regardless of the curve ball, the circumstances you are in in the world, Christian, you will have tribulation - be not surprised whether it is in work, in the family - here is the encouraging part - "be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". Although we are faint today like the 200 men and you cannot cross that cheerful brook Christ says to you "be of good cheer I have overcome the world".

An enmity - verses 21 and 22 "And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil. And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him; and when David came near to the people, he saluted them." David returns with the 400 men, their wives and children and the spoil. In the midst of this scene then there comes an an enmity. David came to the 200 "and he saluted them." That is the 200 who didn't go into battle but as he saluted them the enmity came in. The 400 men wanted to send the 200 away into the wilderness, to certain death among the Amalekites and Philistines. They do not deserve this but David stepped in. In verse 23 he tells them that everyone gets the spoil, the blessing. Everyone gets to be involved in this. David saluted the 200 men who did not go into battle. Surely he was gracious in doing so. This word 'saluted' means he asked concerning their welfare as he came back. He had one thing on his mind. He asked after them. What grace and the greater David, our Lord Jesus asks after you today. As his child he salutes you, he asks after you too. Is there enmity in your family because you are a Christian? Jesus salutes you and asks after you today. He asks about your welfare. He tells the men everything will be divided equally.

There is encouragement. They got everything back - their wives, their children and the spoils. They did not miss out although they had remained at the brook. These 200 were instructed to look after the stuff, that was their task. That was just as important a task as the other 400 had. What was included in this stuff? Additional food supplies, weapons, tools, pots and pans. Stuff that was necessary. They couldn't do without it. David tasked these 200 to look after that staff. The menial tasks of life need to be looked after. The daily grind of your life needs to be looked after. The future king of Israel gave them a task to look after their stuff. Not everyone will be behind a lectern or on the mission field. We all have our own mission field - it may not just be on a foreign field. There is a mission field right where we are. Not everyone will be a preacher or an evangelist. Some are given the task of looking after the stuff - including those who pray. Are you looking after the stuff? Are you on your knees? That is also so needful. Don't become disheartened and discouraged. The end of this story was that this stuff was spread across the blessing. Those who look after the stuff both partake the same. God uses you in whatever capacity he has given you. Isaiah 40 verses 29 to 31 "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Waiting time is never wasted time. The world expects you to be busy but there is also a time of waiting. This waiting is an active waiting not passive. The original root word of waiting means to look as you wait. You look, you expect, you hope. You are looking to God, you are expected to see something from God. The original meaning was to bind together or wrap together or twist. He forgives us for our sins when we are faithful and just to confess them before him.

"My Lord's words are true as to the tribulation. I have my share of it beyond all doubt. The flail is not hung up out of the way, nor can I hope that it will be laid aside so long as I lie upon the threshingfloor. How can I look to be at home in the enemy's country, joyful while in exile, or comfortable in a wilderness? This is not my rest. This is the place of the furnace, and the forge, and the hammer. My experience tallies with my Lord's words.

I note how He bids me "be of good cheer." Alas! I am far too apt to be downcast. My spirit soon sinks when I am sorely tried. But I must not give way to this feeling. When my Lord bids me cheer up I must not dare to be cast down.

What is the argument which He uses to encourage me? Why, it is His own victory. He says, "I have overcome the world." His battle was much more severe than mine. I have not yet resisted unto blood. Why do I despair of overcoming? See, my soul, the enemy has been once overcome. I fight with a beaten foe. O world, Jesus has already vanquished thee; and in me, by His grace, He will overcome thee again. Therefore am I of good cheer, and sing unto my conquering Lord."

C H Spurgeon's - Faith's Checkbook