Q1. Blaming the Leader

[Raph]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6)

Why do the men blame David?

Men blame David for taking all of them to join the enemy's army leaving their families without protection.

Why is the situation so explosive at this point.

The situation is so explosive at this point because the men were even thinking of stoning David. It is clear that, the men do not see any leadership values in David.

What does David do in the situation?

In the situation, David prays to the Lord so that he can get strength to persevere.

What is David feeling?

David is feeling bad and hurt and that is why he was also weeping.

Why doesn't he act immediately?

David doesn't act immediately as he has to pray and ask God for strength and guidance.

[Highohfaith]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David?

It's human nature to play the 'blame game'. Anyone of David's men could have consulted with David upon going out to the hills about leaving some men behind to protect the woman and children but they did not. David would have probably agreed. They feel a sense of guilt. They want to blame 'someone' else and since David is their leader he is the first to take the heat.

Why is the situation so explosive at this point.

All the soldiers families and children,including David's have been carted away by the enemy ( they do not know if they are alive or dead, or being tortured, raped, or who knows what at the hands of the enemy) they have lost everything near and dear to them.

What does David do in the situation?

Relies on God. PRAYS!

What is David feeling?

Fear, remorse ,guilt, shame, abandonment,fear.

Why doesn’t he act immediately?

He trust God and is waiting patiently on God. In true"David character" ( as we have learned thus far) his allegiance is first and foremost to God, no matter what the situation. David has proven he is a man of God and his faith is true, and steadfast! He trust in God's will, not his own! he relies always on God for all the answers!

[Old Jerry]

They blame David because he was their leader and he is the one that told them to go to war. The reason that the situation is so explosive at this point is because their loved ones and all that they owned had been captured by the enemy.

David also sits down and cries with his men. All that he has had been taken away. So they all cry until the as completely exhausted. David had to let them men get this out of their system so that is the reason that he didn’t act immediately.

[csreeves]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David? Why is the situation so explosive at this point. What does David do in the situation? What is David feeling? Why doesn’t he act immediately?

Humaness. David is overwhelmed he doesn't act immedietly because humaness hurts all involved and God tells David not to.

[blezed]

Why do the men blame David?

1. They blame David because he was their leader and they had no one else to blame.

Why is the situation so explosive at this point.

2. They have lost their homes and their women and children have been captured by the enemy.

What does David do in the situation?

3. David finds strength in the Lord.

What is David feeling?

4. David is hurt. He had taken care of his men and their families up to this point now they don't seem to trust him and want to blame him for what had happen.

Why doesn’t he act immediately?

5. He does not act immediately because, as always, he consults God and waits for his answer.

[Willard]

The men blame David out of their terrerible grief. They probably expected their loved ones to be protected, and it seems when things do not go the way we think it should, we look to place the blame on something or someone else. His men were exhausted and grieving; fertile ground for tempers to flare. David sought God as to what he should do, and strengthened himself spiritually. David is grieving and is no doubt feeling the same as his men over their losses. David needed to think clearly, be rested, and seek God's will in the situation before he acted.

[linda bass]

The men blame David because they felt they should of stayed home to defend their families rather than going north with the Philistines.

The situation is so explosive at this point because the men were talking about stoning David.

What David does in this situation is,he prays and turns to the Lord for strength and guidance.

David is probably feeling depressed and filled with hopelessness.

David doesn't act immediately because he wants to seek the Lord's counsel before making any rash desicions.

[joy irowa]

they blamed him for taking all the army to battle, he would have ask some of them to stay back to protect the city

all they had including their family have been taken captive

David was distressed but he encouraged himself in the Lord

he needed to know the mind of God concerning the situation

[Platoz]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6)

Why do the men blame David?

The men blame David because he had them go and act like they were aligning with the Philistines. They thought it much too daring and David was pushing his luck.

Why is the situation so explosive at this point.

Because the men have lost their families and all of their monetary worth. The Philistines might have already killed or separated their families or sexually abused them. I'm sure they were tired of being out in the wilderness also without a definite place to call home.

What does David do in the situation?

David does not make plans to go after the Amalakites right away. He goes to God and reflects on how God has always lead him and delivered him from his battles. It was a way of calming himself and recognizing God for his faithfulness to him before he went and did something without God's guidance. I think they called it “centering down”.

What is David feeling?

He's trying to remain calm and not let his brain run off in a fury of revenge. It seems like it would almost be impossible to do due to the noise of his men angry at him and sad for their loss. Would this be some kind of self-hypnotic state or yoga practice?

Why doesn't he act immediately?


David wants to be in control of the situation instead of the situation controlling him so he is taking the time to center down. He also wants to ask of God what he should do by using the ephod from the Priest robe.

http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1176

[Lorraine Overstreet]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6)

Why do the men blame David?

Why is the situation so explosive at this point.

What does David do in the situation?

What is David feeling?

Why doesn’t he act immediately?

a. David's men felt he was to blame because he made the men

go fight Israel and he left the camp without defense. So the

enemies were free to walk into the camp and take all the people.

b. Because David's men felt they has lost their families. They

knew Israel was under attack and they knew the other leaders

did not trust them.

c. He was in the corner praying to God, seeking God. David

has to do God's will concerning their families. He consulted with

the Priest asking God's will.

d. David was in the corner crying and praying, drawing strength

from God, asking God for guidance in finding their families

e. Because of the way he acted on his own with Nabal, David

knew not to act without God. So he sought God's guidance on

what to do first,

[royk]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David? Why is the situation so explosive at this point. What does David do in the situation? What is David feeling? Why doesn’t he act immediately?

David led those men into battle, and it cost their families dearly. It was his fault as the leader who made the decisions he made.

But David decided to inquire of the Lord before taking action. This is an important lesson to see right away. Seek God's will before taking action. :The interesting question is ... what does it mean to take action, immediately after getting God's decision, or path to take

Once we know God's will, it is best to trust and obey, and seek His favor.

[wifee]

1a)The philistine troops were devastated when they found their wives&children had been taken away & their homes burnt at Ziklag by Amalekites seeking revenge for attacks David made on the Amalekites before.In philistines grief they blamed David as he is the leader who sent them north to fight. ,leaving families vulnerable.

b)David’s men have lost everything,so mourning deeply&people react explosively, expressing anger blaming him from their acute emotions of grief

c)David turns to God ,seeking strength,peace,comfort &ability to prevail from the Lord ḥāzaq.

d)David would have felt sad with the grief of his men&even anger himself at the devastation&slaughter, but he knew also he must remain calm,centre down to a reflective place of peace ¬ react to his men’s taunts.

e)He waited to receive wisdom on what to do from the Lord,prays&sings to the Lord, to centre down, and act in line with God’s will.

[srwbibleman]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David?

Because he ordered the men to leave the rest defenseless.

Why is the situation so explosive at this point?
The men have lost their loved ones and its natural to want to lash out at someone or something any that is David.

What does David do in the situation?
He prays and mediates upon The Lord and renews his strength and hope for the future.

What is David feeling?
He is feeling discouraged and demoralized.

Why doesn't he act immediately?
He doesn't want to react to the situation he wants to seek God's will and wisdom so that he may be able to let The Lord fight his battles.  He wants to get under God's yoke.
 

 

 

[cjenkins1388]

The men blame David because he is the leader, and he made the decision to take all the men leaving Ziklag unprotected.

 

The situation is so explosive because the men wanted to kill Saul which meant they wouldn't have had to be hiding out with the Philistine's and the situation could have been avoided.

 

David feels terrible for the loss of Ziklag, but he puts his faith in the Lord by separating himself from the to gain strength in the Lord, he prays and sings to himself.  He can't allow himself to get caught up in defending himself or allowing himself to become depressed

 

[karynjg]

(1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David? Why is the situation so explosive at this point. What does David do in the situation? What is David feeling? Why doesn't he act immediately?

 

David and his army of men have had a lot of success in their pursuits and David's followers have come to trust his decisions with their lives and their families lives.  When things go awry and their families are taken, they are distraught and angry at David.  David is feeling just as distraught as they are, and knows he must do what he can to retrieve their families. But he doesn't act quickly and thoughlessly.  He takes time to seek God's guidance and makes sure he has a clear answer.

[WinstonY]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David? Why is the situation so explosive at this point. What does David do in the situation? What is David feeling? Why doesn’t he act immediately?

 

The men blame David for a couple of reasons.

Firstly David is there and he is their leader. The man feel the David should have foreseen this and have done something to prevent it.

Secondly, it is human nature to blame someone else for the troubles that fall upon you. If we blame ourselves in such a situation the result maybe that we are unable to bear the pain.

The situation is dangerous because these men are men of action and they are used to killing and of doing what they want. It is necessary for David to let these men mourn for they have had a great loss. At first we often want to blame someone else when bad things happen but often once we more in a bit we become a little more rational.

David, himself, needs to cry over the situation and pray to God to God for guidance and strength.

[RogueLifter]

Why do the men blame David?

Just as in any situation, you look to your leader or the one in charge to find blame.  These men followed David to fight with the Philistines against Israel, so they must've felt that God had brought this back around to them as punishment. 

Why is the situation so explosive at this point?  

Fear and anger is in their hearts.  Keep in mind, the verse did not say they came back and found all the women and children dead.  For sure at that point they wouldve killed David and chased down the Amalekites , only ending in their death as well.  Instead, they women and children were taken and surely going to be kept as slaves.  

What does David do in the situation?

Weeps.  He and his men wept til the could weep no more and then they spoke of stoning David.  

What is David feeling? Why doesn't he act immediately?

Great distress and sorrow.  He fears for his wives and the wives and children of the men who follow him.  Instead of acting on impulse and anger, he automatically diverts his attention to the Lord.  He remembers the God that showed him favor and strength against the giant, kept him safe from Saul's sword,  and anointed him when he was the child shoved to the side by the family.  

In that moment he collected his thoughts, brought himself nearer to the Lord, and asked for insight on how to respond. 

[DJW]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David? Why is the situation so explosive at this point. What does David do in the situation? What is David feeling? Why doesn’t he act immediately?

The men had been following David who had most certainly prepared them for battle with the philistines and now they were not welcomed or considered allies and were essentially retreating now to find their 'home' had been raided and their loved ones taken hostage. 

David felt fear and turned to the Lord in obedience, for courage, guidance and if it be God's will, restitution.  

I think David would have had a lot going on both emotional and politically, so he would have needed time to reflect and pray to enquire of the Lord and disseminate his instructions. 

[Irmela]

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6)

Why do the men blame David?

Why is the situation so explosive at this point?

What does David do in the situation?

What is David feeling?

Why doesn't he act immediately?

David and his men had left the women and children at Ziglag, where they had  settled down, while they, joined the Philistines into battle, much further North.  David had not left some of the men behind to watch over the women and children, and their possessions at Ziglag.  Now that they were missing and everything had been burnt and looted, it was easy to put the blame on the leader.  

They were all tired and hungry, disgruntled, totally exhausted after their march up North and then back again.  Certainly also afraid that their women and children were being mistreated/held captive by enemies, or worse, even murdered.

David cries together with his men. He too has lost everything.  He turns to the Lord, to find out what the next thing is to do.  

I think he must feel terrible that his men turn on him.  It is not his fault that the enemy made use of the opportunity to loot their place as they did.  Not only that, he too is worried about his wives.  not only are his family his responsibility, but the whole lot are.  He is the leader who has to make the decisions.

David waits on the Lord.