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1 Samuel 30:23-24 - Tender Words to the Tired Heart.

1 Samuel 30:23-24 (NIV) David replied, "No, 
my brothers, you must not do that with what the 
LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed 
over to us the forces that came against us. 24 
Who will listen to what you say? The share of 
the man who stayed with the supplies is to be 
the same as that of him who went down to the 
battle. All will share alike." 

1 Samuel 30:23-24 (NLT) But David said, 
No, my brothers! Dont be selfish with what 
the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and 
helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked 
us. 24 Who will listen when you talk like this? 
We share and share alike - those who go to 
battle and those who guard the equipment. 

COMMENTARY

   Brook Besor. Don't feel bad if you've 
never heard of the place. Most haven't, but more 
need to. The Brook Besor narrative deserves shelf 
space in the library of the worn-out. It speaks 
tender words to the tired heart. 
   The story emerges from the ruins of 
Ziklag. David and his six hundred soldiers return 
from the Philistine war front to find utter 
devastation. A raiding band of Amalekites had swept down 
on the village, looted it, and taken the women 
and children hostage. The sorrow of the men 
mutates into anger, not against the Amalekites, but 
against David. After all, hadn't he led them into 
battle? Hadn't he left the women and children 
unprotected? Isn't he to blame? Then he needs to die. So 
they start grabbing stones. 
   This could be his worst hour.
   But he makes it one of his best.
   David redirects the men's anger toward 
the enemy. They set out in pursuit of the 
Amalekites. Keep the men's weariness in mind. They still 
bear the trail dust of a long campaign and 
haven't entirely extinguished their anger at David. 
They don't know the Amalekites' hideout, and, if 
not for the sake of their loved ones, they might 
give up. 
   Indeed, two hundred do. The army reaches 
a brook called Besor, and they dismount. 
Soldiers wade in the creek and splash water on their 
faces, sink tired toes in cool mud, and stretch out 
on the grass. Hearing the command to move on, 
two hundred choose to rest. "You go on without 
us," they say. 
   How tired does a person have to be to 
abandon the hunt for his own family? 
   The church has its quorum of such folks. 
Good people. Godly people. Only hours or years 
ago they marched with deep resolve. But now 
fatigue consumes them. They're exhausted. So beat-up 
and worn down that they can't summon the 
strength to save their own flesh and blood. Old age 
has sucked their oxygen. Or maybe it was a 
deflating string of defeats. Divorce can leave you at 
the brook. Addiction can as well. Whatever the 
reason, the church has its share of people who just 
sit and rest. 
   And the church must decide. What do we do 
with the Brook Besor people? Berate them? Shame 
them? Give them a rest but measure the minutes? Or 
do we do what David did? David let them stay. 
   He and the remaining four hundred 
fighters resume the chase. 
   David and his men swoop down upon the 
enemy like hawks on rats. Every Israelite woman 
and child is rescued. Every Amalekite either 
bites the dust or hits the trail, leaving precious 
plunder behind. David goes from scapegoat to hero, 
and the whooping and hollering begin. 
   And what about the two hundred men who 
had rested? 
   You might feel the way some of David's 
men felt: "Because they did not go with us, we 
will not give them any of the spoil that we have 
recovered, except for every man's wife and children" (1 
Sam. 30:22). 
   A Molotov cocktail of emotions is 
stirred, lit, and handed to David. Here's how he 
defuses it: "Don't do that after what the Lord has 
given us. He has protected us and given us the 
enemy who attacked us. Who will listen to what you 
say? The share will be the same for the one who 
stayed with the supplies as for the one who went 
into battle. All will share alike." (1 Samuel 
30:23-24) 
   Note David's words: they "stayed with the 
supplies," as if this had been their job. They hadn't 
asked to guard supplies; they wanted to rest. But 
David dignifies their decision to stay. 
   David did many mighty deeds in his life. 
He did many foolish deeds in his life. But 
perhaps the noblest was this rarely discussed deed: 
he honored the tired soldiers at Brook Besor. 
   Someday somebody will read what David did 
and name their church the Congregation at Brook 
Besor. Isn't that what the church is intended to 
be? A place for soldiers to recover their 
strength? 
   If you are listed among them, here is 
what you need to know: it's okay to rest. Jesus 
is your David. He fights when you cannot. He 
goes where you cannot. He's not angry if you sit. 
Did he not invite, "Come off by yourselves; 
let's take a break and get a little rest" (Mark 
6:31 MSG)? 
   Brook Besor blesses rest.
   Brook Besor also cautions against 
arrogance. David knew the victory was a gift. Let's 
remember the same. Salvation comes like the Egyptian 
in the desert, a delightful surprise on the 
path. Unearned. Undeserved. Who are the strong to 
criticize the tired? 
   Are you weary? Catch your breath. We need 
your strength. 
   Are you strong? Reserve passing judgment 
on the tired. Odds are, you'll need to plop 
down yourself. And when you do, Brook Besor is a 
good story to know. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional 
at maxlucado.com] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Galatians 6:2 - Bear One Another's Burdens.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200724-0949.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: 
https://bible.awr.org/the-signs/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657