Two Hundred So Weary

Our 200th Post

Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.
[1 Samuel 30:21 NKJV]

Are we there yet? The two hundred men so weary that they stayed at the Brook Besor (the cheerful river), seemed to have given up on the journey. They preferred the comfort of not making the effort to follow David; perhaps they wanted the easy way out.

David’s mighty men at this point numbered six hundred — which might be considered ‘a double portion’ of the three hundred that Gideon was granted to gain victory over the Midianites. However, a third part of David’s force were ‘so weary’ that they could not follow David any longer. The four hundred were contemptuous of those who stayed and would not share the spoils, but David greeted the two hundred so weary and said:

“My brethren, you shall not do so [refuse to share the spoil] with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.” [1Samuel 30:23 NKJV]

There is a beautiful lesson to be seen in this story, which is that we should not judge harshly those who weary in the fight. Not all of us have the vigour to push through against all adversity. Some recognise their limitations — or maybe ... just maybe ... they have conserved or recovered their strength in a time of rest to make the difference in the final stages of the conflict. Certainly, David refused to condemn their insufficiency; instead offering equal shares of the gains to all. All had played a part when the end of the matter was resolved.

For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.”
[1 Samuel 30:24 NKJV]

Each has a part to play and not one is greater than another. What the King has allowed shall not be gainsaid by his subordinates. Sometimes the incomplete picture has more to say than a finished work. Only The Lord can say, and if anyone else tries to intervene, we can truly state who will heed you in this matter!

Thank you, Lord — you see the bigger picture; the greater good; the completeness that we cannot. Help us to hear only Your voice and ignore the scoffing and protesting thoughts that would threaten Your peace.

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In the New Testament, “world” means the system of things which has been built on God’s earth, the system of religion or of society or of civilisation that never takes Jesus Christ into account.

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