Besor Brook

1 Samuel 30 - Have you studied this before? What a disaster! David and his six hundred men took off on a military mission with King Achish of Gath. They were forced to leave their wives and children at Ziklag unprotected. A raiding ban of Amalekites, long-time enemies of Israel, destroyed the village, kidnapped the women and children, stole everything in the place, and left a smoking wreck. David’s men were choked by rage when they returned to this catastrophe and it went downhill from there. Grief clouded their minds; anger hardened their hearts. They wanted to kill David. He was their leader and should not have left the village unprotected. David was definitely in serious trouble so what did he do?

"….. David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6).

David worshipped; David called on his pastor for counsel. David went deep within himself, met God, and found strength and direction. David came out from the place of quietness and counsel and prayer with a plan. He set out to bring back the lost women and children. David’s men didn’t think it possible. They were fatigued and demoralized. The journey was strenuous with riveting twists and turns. They didn’t think it could get any worse and then a third of the men just gave up and sat in exhaustion at Besor Brook. The rest of the men left them there and went on to find their families. Well the news turned out good after a good Samaritan act brought about information that led to a victorious battle. Bottom line to all the incredible excitement: every wife & child was recovered and all their stuff too. What a grand celebration! Read it for yourself – it’s an amazing story and I just touch upon it here.

You might think this is the end. What? Do you live in Hollywood?

Spoilers exist and they were at Besor Brook too. The spoilers did not want to share the bounty of the battle with the men who had deserted them and a great argument ensued. “Give them their families and tell them to shove off – we don’t’ need quitters in this company.” (v22)

David intervened and that was the climax to the story. David ruled that everybody at the brook that day -- the two hundred who had been unable to continue and stayed with the supplies at the brook (1 Sam. 30:24) and the four hundred who had fought for their lives -- were equals and would share everything equally: "Everything we have is a gift from God; we share it with all who are saved by God" (1 Sam. 30:23-25).

A pearl to string: “Besor” means “good news”. The good news that day was the underserved grace the weary & heavy burdened received. Isn't that a foreshadow?
Jesus: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light”. (Matt. 11:28-30). That day at Besor Brook David seemed to anticipate and emulate the very actions Jesus himself would do nearly 1,000 years later.

Jesus is our rest giver,
You are loved,
Lyndi