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According to the Principle of Grace

찬송 : 찬송가 397장 (새찬송가 357장)
2022-06-24 [사무엘상(1 Samuel) 30:21 - 30:31]

21	Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them.
22	Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart."
23	But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.
24	Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike."
25	And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.
26	When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD."
27	It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir,
28	in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa,
29	in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites,
30	in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach,
31	in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

Thinking & Understanding
When David arrived at the brook Besor with the spoils, the people who had stayed behind warmly welcomed and greeted him. However, some of the soldiers argued that the spoils should not be given to them. David declared that the spoils were not a ‘repayment’ but a ‘gift’ and therefore needed to be shared out equally among all the people (vv. 21-24). This principle established by David would later continue to be kept in Israel as a commandment and statute. David also sent portions of the spoils to elders in various cities of Judah (vv. 25-31).

Who is God?
Vv. 21-24 God’s grace does not discriminate against the socially disadvantaged (v. 11) or outcast. The victory of the battle against the Amalekites was a result of God’s grace. No one could arrogantly boast that the victory had been achieved by their own strength. As we have received freely, we must also give freely. Are you treating others in accordance with this principle of grace?

What lesson is God teaching me?
Vv. 26-31 David shared the spoils taken from the Amalekites with the elders of Judah and thirteen of its cities in the name of the Lord. He demonstrated the nature of a merciful king who gives, shares and serves. What can you do to ensure that this life-saving principle of grace is upheld in the fiercely competitive battleground of this world which makes us believe that only the victorious can survive?

Prayer
Lord, help me not to boast of my labour and to be thankful for your grace.