David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag.
They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old.
They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. ''
These Amalekites raided Negev and Ziklag, burnt Ziklag and took captive the people, and went on their way, with the plunder.
They did not seem to have gone back from where they came, but we read that they just proceeded on their way.
When David and his men came back, they discovered what happened.
David did not know who were the people who raided, and where did they head towards.
'' 1 Samuel 30 : 7 - 8
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, '' Bring me the ephod. ''
Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, '' Shall I pursue this raiding party ?
Will I overtake them ? ''
'' Pursue them, '' he answered.
'' You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue. ''
When David set out, he had no clue where these raiders have gone.
All he had was the word from God that he will be successful in the rescue. With this lamp of the word of God in his hand, David marched out in darkness.
People of God, we must be courageous like David.
When we receive the word of God and assurance from God, though we see pitch darkness around us, carrying the lamp of God on our heads, in the light of His word, we should take our steps of courage.
Let us see how God sent help to David, on the way.
'' 1 Samuel 30: 9 - 16
David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind, for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit.
They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David.
They gave him water to drink and food to eat -- part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins.
He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.
David asked him, '' To whom do you belong, and where do you come from ? ''
He said, '' I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite.My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb.And we burned Ziklag.
David asked him, '' Can you lead me down to this raiding party ? ''
He answered, '' Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.''
He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.''
God arranged an Egyptian, who was one among the raiders, to help His servant David.
David did not learn about the Egyptian's background instantly when he was brought to him.
First David proved true to God by being hospitable to this stranger, who hadn't eaten for three days and three nights.
'' 1 Samuel 30: 9 - 16
David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind, for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit.
They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David.
They gave him water to drink and food to eat -- part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins.
He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.
David asked him, '' To whom do you belong, and where do you come from ? ''
He said, '' I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite.My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb.And we burned Ziklag.
David asked him, '' Can you lead me down to this raiding party ? ''
He answered, '' Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.''
He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.''
God arranged an Egyptian, who was one among the raiders, to help His servant David.
David did not learn about the Egyptian's background instantly when he was brought to him.
First David proved true to God by being hospitable to this stranger, who hadn't eaten for three days and three nights.
David wasn't harsh with him, neither did he beat him up or tie him up to enquire if he knows anything about the raiders.
He could have turned violent, as they were all distressed because their people were taken captive by the Amalekites.
But when they found this Egyptian, they were hospitable to him and served him food, and showed the love of God.
Dear people, we do not know whom God has appointed to send us help.
Therefore, when we walk in faith, we should prove true to God in everything we do.
Every person we meet on the way, we ought to prove loyal to God in dealing with that person.
For the One who promised is faithful and He will take care of all our needs.
He will send us all the help we need when we make Him our source of strength and our reason of courage.
'' 1 Corinthians 16 : 13, 14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. ''
This Egyptian was abandoned by his master, not accidentally !
God has caused him to fall ill, so that he would be a help to His servant David to locate the raiders. And God kept him alive, though he hadn't eaten for three days and three nights.
And David met with this Egyptian, only when he marched out courageously, not knowing any thing about the direction the raiders left, but what shone on David's way, was just the word of God.
But when they found this Egyptian, they were hospitable to him and served him food, and showed the love of God.
Dear people, we do not know whom God has appointed to send us help.
Therefore, when we walk in faith, we should prove true to God in everything we do.
Every person we meet on the way, we ought to prove loyal to God in dealing with that person.
For the One who promised is faithful and He will take care of all our needs.
He will send us all the help we need when we make Him our source of strength and our reason of courage.
'' 1 Corinthians 16 : 13, 14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. ''
This Egyptian was abandoned by his master, not accidentally !
God has caused him to fall ill, so that he would be a help to His servant David to locate the raiders. And God kept him alive, though he hadn't eaten for three days and three nights.
And David met with this Egyptian, only when he marched out courageously, not knowing any thing about the direction the raiders left, but what shone on David's way, was just the word of God.
God did not reveal to him that an Egyptian is waiting for him, who will give him some helpful information and guide him to the raiders.
But God just assured David success, and watched over David, as he set out.
Dear people,God makes all the arrangements for us, and will wait on us to take that step of courage, taking His word....
And He will watch over us, as we proceed...
God doesn't want us to be timid looking at the situations around us.
And He will watch over us, as we proceed...
God doesn't want us to be timid looking at the situations around us.
''2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.''
Even if it is pitch darkness that surrounds us, God wants us to march ahead courageously.
He will not reveal what good things He has instored for us, but He waits on us to see how blindly we keep our trust in Him and how faithful we will be to His instruction.
Do not be discouraged when you don't see any hope around, if you are asked to march ahead in a certain direction.
When we take our step of faith in God, and walk ahead with courage, its then, on the way that we will discover the help that God has arranged for us to reach our goal.
At each step that we make in the darkness, we need to be loyal to God, showing His love in all we do.
If David was not nice to this Egyptian, then it would have surely taken longer time for him to locate the Amalekites.
Many of us might be passing through such phases, where we don't see a ray of light, and do not know which direction to take.
But dear God's people, act with courage!
Acknowledging God at every instant, take your steps one by one.
'Acknowledging God' means our steps must be positive towards the goal God has given us, and negative towards the rest of the world.
'' Hosea 6 : 3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.''
'Acknowledging God' means our steps must be positive towards the goal God has given us, and negative towards the rest of the world.
'' Hosea 6 : 3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.''
The strength of David was only the word of God.
Though some two hundred men could not go along with him, as they were too exhausted to cross the Ravine, David yet was victorious and came back with all that the enemies had taken away.
This is only because David kept His trust in God, and not in himself or the men with him.
And acknowledging God, he marched ahead.
'' Psalm 44 : 6 , 7 I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. ''
Dear people, it is not by our bow and arrow that we shoot our enemies, and its not our sword that brings us victory, but its our Lord who fights for us and hands over our adversaries to us. And endows success on us.
As the Spirit of God is speaking to us this hour, dear people, let us not lose hearts in our faith walk...
Though we may not know the direction we ought to take, let us march ahead in darkness with faith, seeing the goal God has given us, with the word of God shining on our ways.
'' Job 29 : 2, 3
How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness! ''
Though some two hundred men could not go along with him, as they were too exhausted to cross the Ravine, David yet was victorious and came back with all that the enemies had taken away.
This is only because David kept His trust in God, and not in himself or the men with him.
And acknowledging God, he marched ahead.
'' Psalm 44 : 6 , 7 I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. ''
Dear people, it is not by our bow and arrow that we shoot our enemies, and its not our sword that brings us victory, but its our Lord who fights for us and hands over our adversaries to us. And endows success on us.
As the Spirit of God is speaking to us this hour, dear people, let us not lose hearts in our faith walk...
Though we may not know the direction we ought to take, let us march ahead in darkness with faith, seeing the goal God has given us, with the word of God shining on our ways.
'' Job 29 : 2, 3
How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness! ''
When God watches over us, while we take our steps in the light of his lamp, marching through the darkness, then even the rocks on our way will pour out olive oil for us...
'' Job 29 : 4 - 6
Oh for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil. ''
May God grant us courage to take every step in faith, and march ahead in darkness.....and may His Splendor and Glory be displayed in our lives, as we march ahead in faithfulness, with the lamp of His word shining on our ways.
God Bless You.
'' Job 29 : 4 - 6
Oh for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil. ''
May God grant us courage to take every step in faith, and march ahead in darkness.....and may His Splendor and Glory be displayed in our lives, as we march ahead in faithfulness, with the lamp of His word shining on our ways.
God Bless You.
