As we meditate on these Scriptures, this hour, we will learn the importance of carrying oil, along with the lamps.
As we see in this above Scripture, David apparently, did not inquire of the Lord before marching into the battlefield along with the Philistines.
If we read the previous chapters in 1 Samuel, we learn that David took the advise of God before he stepped into any battle.
However in this instance, David had not sought the direction from God, and marched into the army with the Philistines who were fighting against Saul, the king of Israel.
David had won the favour of Achish, the son of King of Gath by that time.
Let us read how successful he was:
'' 1 Samuel 29 : 4,5 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, ''Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master's favour than by taking the heads of our own men? Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances:
'' 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands' ? ''
'' 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands' ? ''
Now, David here was apparently not successful and was sent back from the army to Ziklag.
This simple mistake of David actually had costed him a big loss, unbearable grief, and a tough battle eventually with the Amalekites.
Because, while David and his men, without inquiring God, were away with the Philistines to fight against Saul's army, the Amalekites raided Negev and Ziklag. They burned Ziklag and took away all the people living there.
David's wives were too taken captive along with the other people.
'' 1 Samuel 30 :3 - 8
When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David's two wives had been captured -- Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 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.'' ''
David literally broke when he saw what had happened in his absence. And the situation went to the extent that people were talking of stoning him.
Dear people, as we are meditating on these Scriptures let us realise that not every battle, is for us to involve.
Not every situation that occurs in our spiritual journey comes from God.
David's wives were too taken captive along with the other people.
'' 1 Samuel 30 :3 - 8
When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David's two wives had been captured -- Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 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.'' ''
David literally broke when he saw what had happened in his absence. And the situation went to the extent that people were talking of stoning him.
Dear people, as we are meditating on these Scriptures let us realise that not every battle, is for us to involve.
Not every situation that occurs in our spiritual journey comes from God.
We must inquire God before we involve ourselves in any matter, even if our involvement seems appropriate to our human senses.
Because that step of ours will be taken as a chance by the enemy to ruin the other areas of our lives. David looked at only one side, that he won the favour of Achish, and without asking God he went ahead, but by the grace of God he was sent back from the battle, and when he goes back he found that his people were taken captive by the Amalekites during his absence.
David then inquires of the Lord, and on God's advise he pursues the raiders, and with the help of God, finally brings back everything the Amalekites have taken.
Just one mistake had costed David a huge loss and tremendous effort to restore that what was lost in the mean time.
People, when we take some decisions in life, many a time our decisions seem best at the moment.
David then inquires of the Lord, and on God's advise he pursues the raiders, and with the help of God, finally brings back everything the Amalekites have taken.
Just one mistake had costed David a huge loss and tremendous effort to restore that what was lost in the mean time.
People, when we take some decisions in life, many a time our decisions seem best at the moment.
And we will not be interested even to think or ponder over, what could be the consequences of our behaviour.
We will not even take God's counsel, because on the outside our decision seems so perfect for us.
We will not even take God's counsel, because on the outside our decision seems so perfect for us.
Only after we become victims of the disasters we face due to our decisions, we realise, only if we had inquired God before we had taken this step, we could have perhaps escaped all the mess.
'' Psalm 132 : 17 Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.''
God called David from the sheep pen and set up a lamp for him. He anointed him to become a king over His people.
'' Psalm 132 : 17 Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.''
God called David from the sheep pen and set up a lamp for him. He anointed him to become a king over His people.
The lamp that God sets up for His anointed people, must be oiled and kept burning all the time.
And oiling the lamp time to time is the responsibility that lies in our hands.
Dear God's people, for the lamp of salvation that Jesus lits in our souls, word of God is the oil.
It is not sufficient if we just carry the lamp, and no oil.
'' Matthew 25 : 1 - 4 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ''
In the kingdom of God, lack of oil is considered only foolishness.
It is not sufficient if we just carry the lamp, and no oil.
'' Matthew 25 : 1 - 4 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ''
In the kingdom of God, lack of oil is considered only foolishness.
I.e., calling ourselves saved, and don't live by the word, is only foolishness...
Without His word and direction, we cannot be successful in our attempts to reach our goal God has assigned us.
We must not be negligent like the foolish virgins, who carried just their lamps, and not oil.
We might be lit by the salvation of God, and shine for a while, and might feel that we have the fire in us, but if we neglect to keep oiling our souls, with the word of God from time to time, then in the least expected hour, our lamps will be snuffed out, and we begin to grope in darkness, striking against harmful objects in darkness - and finally will be only left behind, while the wise move on into the Glory of God.
Each time we make a move, in every aspect of our lives, the light of God must shine on the path we choose.
We might be lit by the salvation of God, and shine for a while, and might feel that we have the fire in us, but if we neglect to keep oiling our souls, with the word of God from time to time, then in the least expected hour, our lamps will be snuffed out, and we begin to grope in darkness, striking against harmful objects in darkness - and finally will be only left behind, while the wise move on into the Glory of God.
Each time we make a move, in every aspect of our lives, the light of God must shine on the path we choose.
If we try to march ahead with snuffed out lamps, thinking I have the lamp of salvation, so I will be protected , then we only represent the foolish virgins, and we only strike against stones and thorns on the way due to lack of light, and only cause harm to ourselves.
Remember, it is not by our desire or efforts, but by God's mercy and His will that we receive the fruit of the promise in the kingdom of God. And God's mercy is guaranteed only when we clothe ourselves with His righteousness, that is His Son Jesus Christ! Unless we live by His Word, we cannot see and taste the mercy of God.
Therefore we must be very wise when we make our moves, not pleasing our souls, but pleasing the One whom we are serving.
David here won the favour of Achish, however, he was rejected to take part in the war - which was, however, for his own good, because when he returned back, the Amalekites have taken everything captive from Ziklag, and he could pursue them to bring back his captive people.
If only David had oiled his lamp of his soul, by inquiring the Lord, perhaps he would have protected Ziklag from the raiders.
People, when God begins to operate in us , it is entirely for His own purposes. And not ours.
God dwells in us to carry out His plans which are much higher than ours.
Let us read this Scripture and see what God actually does with us and how He wants us to be in His hands when He takes us into His plans :
'' Jeremiah 51 : 19 - 23 He who is the Portion of these is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, including the tribe of his inheritance -- the Lord Almighty is his name.
'' You are my war club, my weapon for battle -- with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy the kingdoms, with you I shatter horse and rider, with you I shatter chariot and driver, with you I shatter man and woman, with you I shatter old man and youth, with you I shatter young man and maiden, with you I shatter shepherd and flock, with you I shatter farmer and oxen, with you I shatter governors and officials. ''
God wants to use us as a weapon in His hands to accomplish His purposes.
He wants to use us in various areas, according to how best it seems to Him, and wants us to be only available in His hands, moulding and moving according to how He moves His hand.
If we make movements out of our own wisdom, by what we see and hear, then we will only harm ourselves.
Instead of receiving what we had hoped to receive when we made an ignorant move, we receive only failures, bitterness and distress.
Because God alone knows the purposes why a particular weapon is shaped up and only He knows how to use and what is best to do with any particular weapon He made for Himself.
We are the weapons, called to carry out His purpose.
As we are meditating on this dear people, let us learn this hour, how important it is to carry the oil of the word of God, along with the lamps of salvation.
Because in order to hit the target that God aims at, we must move as His Hand makes us move - and not by our own selves.
As we are meditating on this dear people, let us learn this hour, how important it is to carry the oil of the word of God, along with the lamps of salvation.
Because in order to hit the target that God aims at, we must move as His Hand makes us move - and not by our own selves.
Just like the vigour of fire in a lamp depends on the oil, the word of God is the oil that gives strength and keeps our souls and spirits lit up all the time.
Every move of ours must be based just on the word of God and God's wisdom, and only then we can be useful in God's hands and can know the right direction so that we function in line with God's will.
If God has invited us into His kingdom, remember, that if we do not carry the oil with us, we will be only representing the foolish virgins who were left behind when the bridegroom arrived.
If God has invited us into His kingdom, remember, that if we do not carry the oil with us, we will be only representing the foolish virgins who were left behind when the bridegroom arrived.
So, do not be in haste and do not involve yourselves in every matter, without taking counsel of God, lest the devil takes it as an opportune time to mess up the other aspects of your life.
Carry the oil of His word with you all the time, and every move you make, make sure that the light of God is shining bright on the way - make sure the word of God is guiding you in the path you are taking.
'' Proverbs 8 : 32 - 36 Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favour from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death. ''
May God grant us sound judgment and discernment in all situations, and grant us grace to be led by God's wisdom and be moved alone by Him, in order to accomplish the purposes and plans He has for us.
God Bless You.
'' Proverbs 8 : 32 - 36 Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favour from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death. ''
May God grant us sound judgment and discernment in all situations, and grant us grace to be led by God's wisdom and be moved alone by Him, in order to accomplish the purposes and plans He has for us.
God Bless You.
