Okay maybe David didn’t utter those words. I can still remember sitting in my Old Testament class in undergraduate class and hearing Dr. Tatum explain that David operated like a pirate. This consqeuntly brought all sorts of imagery to my mind. In this present moment I am envisioning a swashbuckling Jack Sparrow type.
David had no ships nor water to carry out his raiding fancy. However, in 1 Samuel 25 – 30 David takes on the role as pirate.
First, is the extortion of Nabal. David keeps his sheperders “safe” in the desert. Yes David defends them, but aren’t his band of rebels the ones raiding the country side. Nabal sees no need for David’s security force and sends him away. At the risk of breaking hospitality customs Nabal spurns David’s men. Nabal’s destruction is narrowly averted by his generous wife Abigail.
David later moves on to the land of Philistines to escape the pursuit of King Saul. David had already tried to escape to Gath where King Achish lived, but his reputation as an Israelite commander preceded him. David played insane to escape.
This time David returned pirate plan in hand. David and his six hundred men went out raiding and pillaging enemies of Israel. Then they would return to King Achish pay him tribute with the spoils with the explanation that they had raided an Israelite town. Pirate scheme in place…Check.
Lastly, David proved that he is the ultimate pirate when his own village is raided and everything is taken. After crying their eyes out the band of rebels did what any good pirate crew did they organized for a mutiny. In this moment David leans on the LORD and is given a promise that a rescue attempt would be successful. The Amalekite raiders have a several days head start but David is such a tank that he catches up to them. 200 of his men couldn’t even keep up with the pace. After this crazy dash David and his men fight the raider for 24 hours. Then David and his band of rebels return with all their stuff and then some. Who is the best pirate in the land? David of course!
I never want to meet David or one of his men in a dark alley that is for sure.
Regardless if we see David as a land-based pirate or Robin Hood of the Ancient Near East one of the most amazing feats is his rise to power. David twice refuses to kill his predecessor. There is no military coup d’etat and really no coup at all. David instead rises to power by relying on the LORD and never losing focus. He always fought for Israel, defeating his true enemies. So perhaps we should learn to approach life with pirate swagger and laser-sighted focus just like David. Okay, I am not so sure about the pirate stuff. Fearless faith of David…Check.