Last week we learned a valuable
lesson from David. He was at an ultimate low point in his life. He
had been in exile in a foreign country for a very long time, and
the main reason was that he had been following God's calling on his
life. And now even whilst following God, the Amalekites destroyed
his and his men's homes, took all their possessions as well as
their wives and children, and if this was not even bad enough, his
men started talking about stoning him. David was at an ultimate low
and yet the Bible tells us that he found his strength in the Lord.
He didn't rebel or blame God, no he turned to Him and God used his
obedience to prosper him. David never gave up and continued to
trust in God.
God told him to go after the
Amalekites and to retrieve all that was theirs, He would be with
them. David and six hundred of his men went after the Amalekites.
They found an Egyptian slave along the road. His master had left
him behind because he got sick. David was kind to him and he led
them to the Amalekites, where they were feasting and drinking of
all the spoils that they took, not only from David and his men, but
of the whole region. Then David and his men attacked them.
"Then David attacked them from
twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them
escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.
So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and
David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking,
either great or small, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which
they had taken from them; David recovered all." 1 Samuel
30:17-19
God was mightily with him. He
helped them to rescue everything that was taken from him, but not
only that, they could take all the other spoil that the Amalekites
took from the Philistines also. David was in fact enriched by this
whole episode, because He continued to trust in God.
This is in stark contrast with
Saul. Just in the next chapter we are told how Saul and his sons
died in the battle with the Philistines. Saul was severely wounded
and his enemy was pursuing him. Then he fell on his own sword and
basically killed himself as he didn't want to fall into the
enemies' hands and his armorbearer didn't want to kill him either.
It is such a sad end to his life. It could have been so different
if he had trusted God inexplicitly as David did.
We can learn from David. We should
not look at our outward circumstances; we should rather look inside
to where God is leading us and what He is busy doing for us. We
should look at our life through heaven's eyes. The enemy might
bring certain things our way, but with God by our side, we will be
enriched in the process just like David. We should never give up
and turn our back on Him. We should keep moving forward, with our
eyes fixed on Him and Him alone. Then true victory will manifest
for us. Stay steadfast in your faith. Keep looking UP. He is always
with you, the great and victorious One.
Father thank you so much that You
are always there for us. Thank you that You are such an amazing
God, the Victorious One, walking alongside us, always ready to
help. We praise Your Name, we look up to You, please lead us to
where we need to go and be. You are glorious. Amen