Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Samuel 28-31; Psalm 18.
When David pursued the Amalekites, he left “two hundred who were too exhausted” and carried on with the remaining four hundred men who were with him (1 Samuel 30:10). After they were victorious, they returned to the men who had been left behind.
“When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, ‘Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.’
“Then David said, ‘You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike’” (1 Samuel 30:21-24).
On one hand, it is not hard to see where these wicked men were coming from. The two hundred men did not fight; therefore, they should not share in the spoil. But David said they would all share in the spoil. Why? Notice again what David said:
“For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike” (1 Samuel 30:24).
David does not contrast those who fought with those who were too tired to fight. Rather, he contrasts those who fought with those who stayed by the baggage. Guarding the equipment and provisions of the company (including that of the four hundred men who fought) was necessary. While these men were not able to pursue the Amalekites and fight, they were able to do something (guard the baggage). So this is what they were expected to do.
In our service to God, we cannot all do the same things (1 Corinthians 12:14-30). We all have different abilities, opportunities, and circumstances that we have to deal with. Those who are able to fulfill more prominent roles must not look down upon their brethren. Those who cannot do all the things their brethren can should still do whatever they can.
Just as Jesus explained in the parable of the talents, it does not matter what we begin with. What matters is that we do the best we can with what we have (Matthew 25:14-30).
Tomorrow’s reading: Psalm 121, 123-125, 128, 130
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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