What did the phrase, ‘How Much More’ mean for King David’s life?
Firstly, it meant leaving Judah, their home territory and going to rescue fellow Israelites in Keilah who were being attacked by the Philistines. David asked the Lord twice, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?’ because his men were afraid (How Much More if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces 1 Samuel 23:3). They won a great victory over their enemies but if we read on in the same chapter it would have become a place of defeat if Saul had trapped David there.
11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.’
And the Lord said, ‘He will.’
12 Again (asked God for a further confirmation that he’d heard correctly) David asked, ‘Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?’
And the Lord said, ‘They will.’
13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. 1 Samuel 23
We have to keep following/looking to the Lord, so that even our places of victory don’t become snares to us!
The second time we see the phrase, ‘How Much More’ in David’s life was when two men brought the head of Ish-Bosheth, King Saul’s last surviving son, to Hebron. 2 Samuel 4:8 Through the murder of Saul’s son, David became king over Judah for seven years and later over all Israel. There was a lot at stake but David saw it as the murder of an innocent man and wouldn’t condone it in any way. David didn’t GRASP at the kingship, but had the men put to death.
27 To this John (the Baptist) replied, ‘A man can receive only what is given them from heaven. John 3
We too, like David, have to learn the difference between Grasping and Receiving.
The third time the phrase, ‘How Much More’ was used, as David fled from Jerusalem under a judgement of God, from his own son Absalom. 2 Samuel 16 Shimei the Benjamite cursed King David and threw dirt and stones at him;
11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, ‘My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How Much More, then, this Benjaminite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.’
Abishai wanted to kill Shimei in a moment but David refused to let him! David had enough battles going on, he didn’t need anymore. Perhaps someone today has a ‘Shimei’ throwing stones/insults in our lives and God wants to see how you will respond. David refused to retaliate, still king, he took the lower place and suffered the abuse. ‘God may see and restore to me His Covenant blessing’. David wanted to restore God’s Favour in his life again, that’s what really matters, to be living in God’s blessing. The stones and insults may hurt but they will pass.
God bless and keep you today.