1 Samuel 30:16-31
As is often the case, tragedy turns David’s heart
toward the Lord. This chapter is another one of David’s best hours. David first
strengthens himself in the Lord, and then He turns to the Lord for specific
guidance concerning their families and those who have kidnapped them.
Act on God’s word (Vs 1-10)
David asks the Lord if he should pursue those who
have taken their loved ones. Will he overtake them if he does pursue them? The
answer to these questions is “Yes!” God assures David he will not only overtake
this band, but he will also completely rescue all that has been taken.
David pursues the Amalekites. When they get to the
Brook of Besor, two hundred men are too tired to keep going. They stay behind
at the brook, but once again, in faith, David continues his pursuit with the
four hundred remaining. God told David to pursue the Amalekites, and David acts
on God’s word faultlessly.
David found strength in God. Invite God into
your situations every trial, every mission – make sure you start with God. When
you are actively conscious that God has approved and you are going forward,
everything falls in the right place. With God, you will view things
differently.
Interruptions are God’s chances for divine
interventions (Vs 11-20)
The trail is indeed cold. David and his men must have
wonder what direction their pursuit should take. At this critical moment, they
just “happen” to come across a man who has been left half-dead in a field.
David and his men to stop and render aid to this man, they offer bread and
water, then a piece of fig cake and raisins to bring this man back to life,
since he has gone three days and nights without either food or water. When the
Egyptian revives, it turns out he is the slave of one of the Amalekite raiders.
He agrees to lead David and his men to the raiding party. What looked like an
interruption, in God’s providence was really God’s divine means of leading
David and his men right to the Amalekites.
What you view as a distraction, stoppage or an
obstacle may be a divine appointment. The interruption may just be an
opportunity from God to love and to serve.
The man leads David to where the people were, David
and his men attack, a slaughter that lasts for many hours. Everything and
everyone the Amalekites had taken from Ziklag is recovered. David’s two wives
are rescued. David brings it all back. Just as God indicated, they have
overtaken their enemy and triumphed.
Be God conscious and do what’s right! (Vs 21-31)
David and the 400 return from the battle and come
to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to go any further. Some
troublemakers among David’s men didn’t want to share any of the plunder with
them. To them; if you didn’t fight, you don’t get to share in the spoils. They
assume that the victory was indeed their victory, something for which they
could take credit, a victory for which they should expect a reward.
David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do
that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us
the forces that came against us. The share of the man who stayed with the
supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will
share alike.” David’s reasoning was right. The victory and the spoils are a
gracious and thus unmerited gift from God. David chooses to stand for what is
right, and in the process, he establishes a principle which outlives him.
If we are intentionally conscious that every
victory is a gift of grace from God, then we will also be gracious to others.
This is especially true when it comes to forgiveness. But what if some don’t
deserve it? Did we deserve God’s grace towards us? (2 Corinthians 8:9) Choose
to do what is right. In our workplace, sometimes we get torn by what seems fair
and unfair, let us be prudently God conscious. The good, or the evil, which we
choose to do, sets a precedent for the future.
Dear God
Help us to start every day with you, so we know you
are our strength and wisdom, and without you we will surely miss opportunities
to love and serve others. Give us the grace to persevere through the
difficulties and see things through to the end. We know our victory comes from
you. Amen.