(9) So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. (10) But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
No doubt after this gracious answer from the Lord, the minds of the people were stayed from any further anger against David. It was no small mercy from the Lord, that he endued the mind of David with meekness, so as not to return railing for railing to the people. But here in the very view of David's meekness, how is my soul constrained to contemplate thine unequalled meekness, oh thou Lamb of God, when thou wast led to the slaughter, and amidst all the taunts and reproaches of the ungodly, thou wast like a deaf man and heard not, and as one that was dumb who did not open his mouth. Psalms 38:13. We must not overlook in the case of the third part of his army being faint, the new trial which arose from it to exercise his faith and patience. No doubt the four hundred as well as himself, were not far from the same languor, for they had had a long march when they returned from the camp of Achish. What a state then must the pursuers be in, when they came up to fight with the Amalekites. But Reader! remember, David was now encouraging himself in the Lord his God. It was this that made him in times past victorious, in the case of Goliath, the lion, and the bear. Oh it is sweet to see what a soul can do, who goes forth in the strength of the Lord God. But is there not a spiritual instruction to be gathered here, from the march of David and his faint soldiers? Is not all the army of our Almighty David like the four hundred of David, faint yet pursuing? And doth not our Jesus lead us on, and bear with all our weaknesses, and faintings, and infirmities? Yes, dearest Lord! thou knowest what we are, and whereof we are made, and art leading us on in thy great strength, made perfect in our weakness.