Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.
So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelites, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.
Then David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him.............. 1 Samuel 30:1-9
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Today's message is one that I think that we all need to take note of because we all go through times that seem difficult and where it seems that circumstances have conspired to come against us. I'd say this is one of those times for David and his men. We see that they have come home from battle to find out that their home has been raided by Amalekites and their families have been taken taken captive. This would definitely qualify as a difficult time! A time full of heartache and despair! It says that David was greatly distressed by the loss of his wives and the fact that his men wanted to stone him because they blamed him for the loss of their families.
My point today is this; As horrific as this experience was, to come home to everything in flames and everyone he held dear gone and taken away as captives, David didn't blame God or turn against Him for what had happened but, instead, he turned to Him! .... "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." is how the word puts it. Instead of blaming God, as so many do when something horrible happens, David turns to God for strength to deal with it. He turns to God for counsel on what to do and what the outcome will be. He specifically asks God, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" Is it any wonder that in 1 Samuel 13:14 and in Acts 13:22 God's testimony of David is, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." Even in this horrible situation David turns to God to see what His will is and what God's heart is. He strengthens himself and seeks God not the advice of those around him.
The word strengthened (2388) in this verse means: to fasten upon, hence to seize, be strong. David, instead of turning away from God and being caught up in the despair of the circumstance turns to God. He fastens upon Him, choosing to seize hold of God, knowing that only in God will he find the help needed to overcome.
Jesus said in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." No matter what the situation or how bad the circumstance the Key is to respond the way David did. Be a man or woman that is after God's heart and be willing to seek His will and in the process you will be encouraged, receive the strength needed and have the peace needed to overcome.
You'll notice God's response to David was, ...And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." So, the next time things are tough remember the words of David in Psalm 9 and be reminded to look to Him and of course, overcome!
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10
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