The previous time we discussed the
life of David, we saw that we can hear from God ourselves. We
needn't rush from prophet to star signs to personality types to
understand where God is leading us. No, we can hear from Him
ourselves. We shouldn't stoop as low as Saul and consult mediums,
we should rather trust in Him inexplicitly and in His mighty power
as well as His perfect timing for our lives.
But Saul did consult a medium and
called up Samuel from the dead. Samuel told him that he will die in
the battle against the Philistines and that Israel will lose the
battle. He was paralyzed with fear, as he knew that God would not
be with them in the battle.
On the other hand David was with
the Philistines, ready to attack Israel. What David's real plan
was, the Bible doesn't say, but it does say that the Philistine
princes didn't trust David and they didn't want him and his men to
go with them to battle. The king of the Philistines trusted David
and tried to convince them that David should go with them, but it
didn't work. David and his men had to return home.
But when they did, they found
Ziklag, where their home was, raided by the Amalekites. They took
everyone that was left behind, men, women and children, as well as
all their belongings and burnt the town to the ground. David and
his men came upon this scene and were devastated. They cried, so
much so that the Bible says - '…they wept, until they had no
more power to weep.' Then a shocking thing happened, David's
own men turned on him:
"Now 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." 1 Samuel 30:6
The men were so devastated that
they started to think irrationally. They wanted to portray their
frustrations unto David. And what did David do?
"But David strengthened himself
in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:6
Isn't it just amazing? His own men
were turning on him; he has lost all earthly support. He was hunted
by the King of his own country, his family has been abducted, all
his belongings were gone and now his own men were turning on him.
And instead of cursing God, instead of asking why, instead of
blaming God, he turned TO Him to be strengthened. I love it. He
could have easily said: "You know what Lord; I have only been
faithful in all that I do, everything. And where has this brought
me? I am living as an exile, in a foreign land, with nothing to my
name and no family to support me and now even my own men is turning
against me. What does it help to follow You?" But no, he didn't.
This was the biggest test of David's life. This was a make or break
moment. He was at the lowest level he had ever been. And yet he was
wise enough to turn to the Lord for strength. And as you will see
as his life story is told, is that this low point in his life, is
quickly succeeded by exaltation to the King of Judah. So at this
low point, he was so close to his breakthrough. Can you imagine if
he had given up there and then? How sad that would have been! But
he didn't and therefore we can read about him as the greatest
Israeli King that ever lived.
The same might happen to us. We
might be so close to our breakthrough, even though things in the
natural are not flowing as we might have expected, our breakthrough
might be around the next corner. We shouldn't give up. We should
never turn our back on God and forsake the route that He has laid
before us. We never know what could be next for us. God is so
patient and kind, so full of love. He wants the best for us. Do not
stop digging just before you find your treasure. Do not give up.
Find your strength in God as David did. Find Him in all that you
do. He will give you the strength to continue. Never ever give up.
In fact rejoice in a low point on your road with God, He will then
take you higher! Just like He did with Job. Afterward Job had
double than what he had before the trial. Walk with that confidence
in mind.
Father thank you that we can find
our strength in You. Thank you that You never give up on us. Help
us to continue on Your path even though it seems as if we are on
the wrong track or that everything is falling apart around us. Give
us the assurance that this road is from You. If not, then help us
to find our route back to You and where we need to be. Amen