In the books of first and second Samuel we read the story of
King David. Many of us have heard
stories about David, but there is at least one that we don’t often
remember. In 1 Samuel 30, we find David
and 600 men who had just returned from fighting alongside Achish the king of
the Philistines. As they return home
they discover that the Amalekites had raided their town, captured their wives (including
two of David’s wives), their children, their livestock, as well as anything of
value. After consulting with their priest
to find the will of God, David pursues the Amalekite raiding party.
As they hurry to catch up to the raiders however, David
finds that two hundred of his men are too exhausted to continue and so he
leaves them behind with all their gear, supplies and what is left of their
town. David and the four hundred remaining
men pursue the Amalekite raiding party and find them celebrating over all the
loot that they had plundered. David and
his men attack and fight with the Amalekites from dusk that day, until the end
of the following day, defeat them, and recapture every single animal, personal belonging,
wife and family member.
But when they return to their camp, the troublemakers began
to stir things up. They argued with
David that the two hundred men who were left behind should not receive any of the plunder because they didn’t
fight to get it. They argued that these
men should get their families back, but receive no share of the loot and
plunder that they had taken from the Amalekites.
David fights back.
David makes an argument that is important to every single one of us and
one that is important to each of you on the football field. David said:
“No, my brothers, you
must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and
delivered into our hands the raiding party 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.” 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel
from that day to this.
It is important to remember that when you win, it isn’t just
the superstars and the heroes that win the game. Every member of your team had a part, Every
coach, every water boy, every trainer, every teacher you ever had who helped
you to earn the grades you needed to play ball, it took the guy on the
sidelines who sprained his ankle before the season started, every football booster,
every friend who gave you a ride home from practice, every relative, every
parent, and every brother or sister that comes to watch you play. As David said, these are the people who “watch
the supplies” for you.
When you win, it isn’t just because of the guy who threw the
touchdown pass, or who caught the interception, or who made the big
tackle. Your victory didn’t come because
of the superstars; it took every single one of you.
And that includes the people who just watch the supplies.
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