Brethren, though they have thought wickedly

1 Samuel 30:22-23 KJV

Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

David still has, I think, six hundred men. Two hundred of them had become faint and we're left by the stuff. When David and the four hundred returned from victory and with the spoils, some of them did not want to share with the two hundred. The Bible calls them wicked men but David calls them brethren.

First, David did not allow them to influence his decision.

Though they were the majority and though they were the ones who helped him in the battle, still he assumed leadership and vetoed their wishes.

Second, though they had responded selfishly, the Bible says wickedly, he identified himself as their brethren.

We are all still in this robe of flesh and do fleshly things. David did not despise them for it but neither did he allow them to do as their flesh suggested. The preacher's job is to direct his congregation in the way. He must not bow to majority pressure, he must insist on Biblical direction. But neither should he allow the fleshly choices of his congregation to bring him to hatred or judgment against them. His is to love them, lead them and let God make of them what God pleases.