1 Samuel 30:16-20
16 Now when he had brought him down, behold, they were dispersed over all the land, eating and drinking and celebrating because of all the great plunder that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
17 And David slaughtered them from the twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.
18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives.
19 And nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, plunder, or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back.
20 So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s plunder.”
Successful Surprise Attack
The Amalekites in celebration
As they advanced under the guidance of the Egyptian, they arrived at the Amalekite camp, where there was a festival-like celebration. (1) They were scattered across the area, eating and drinking in celebration because they had taken a great deal of plunder from the lands of the Philistines and Judah. (2) They were utterly without fear, thinking they have nothing to worry about. They were boasting of their strength and rejoicing over their abundant spoils. Truly pitiful that they were completely oblivious to the impending doom. (3) The scene of the Amalekites feasting is a direct reflection of the fate of sinners nearing destruction. Jesus said, “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man: people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, and they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26–27).
Great victory
David’s forces launched a surprise attack on the Amalekites, who were completely off guard, and secured a significant victory. (1) The battle was intensely fierce and lasted for a whole day. (2) Only 400 Amalekites on camels managed to escape. This indicates that the Amalekite forces were considerably larger than David’s army of 400 men. (3) Victorious, David managed to recover not only his two wives but also the entire families and possessions of his men. (4) Moreover, David acquired more than what had been taken from them, gaining additional spoils of war. As they returned, his men walked ahead of the sheep and cattle, proclaiming, “This is David’s plunder.” David faced difficulties due to his unfaithfulness. However, when he returned to faith, he received blessings from the Lord that were beyond measure. The Lord still accepts and blesses those who return to Him in truth. As it is said in Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked abandon his way, and the unrighteous person his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness. I place my trust in You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.