This chapter details the account of David’s troop returning to find Ziklag burned and all of their families captured by the Amalekites.
“And David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?’ He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.’ So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him… behold, [the Amalekites] were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day… David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, ‘This is David’s spoil.’ ” (v8-9a,16-20 abr)
While David’s troop were marching with the Philistine army, their city was one of many the Amalekites raided. All of the women, children, livestock, and valuables were plundered. Yet, David, seeking God’s blessing, pursues and defeats the Amalekite raiders, regaining more than was lost. Verses 26-31 tell us he had so much spoil, that he sent some to the places in Israel where he and his troop had stayed on their journey to Ziklag.
This is the first time in the last several chapters that we see David consulting the Lord – it seems he has finally remembered the God of Israel, the God of his forefathers, who brought their people out of Egyptian slavery. I’m not sure what the exact trigger was – perhaps the loss of the troop’s families – but David returns to seeking the Lord before acting.
Have you had any life-changing events that have drawn you near to God? I know I have. I had fallen into a dry spell in my faith and had found myself in a toxic work environment with very little hope in my life. An old acquaintance to whom I had not spoken for many months, providentially offered me a job. Over the next several months, he, and other Christ followers in in my life, began to mentor me and set some good examples to follow. My faith slowly revived and I am forever thankful to God for allowing less-than-ideal circumstances to draw me back to Him.
Just as God drew David back, and He drew me back, He longs to draw everyone into a deep relationship with Him. Jesus says ” ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.’ ” (Rev 3:19-20) Jesus is lovingly and longingly standing at the doors of our hearts, waiting for us to repent and invite Him in, so He may be in relationship with us.
I encourage all of us to throw open the doors of our hearts, and let God / Jesus in, embracing the lovingkindness He wishes to bestow upon us. He doesn’t want us to suffer, though when we do suffer He wants to be by our side. “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Pro 18:24) God wants to be that friend, and all we need to do is open the door, accepting His gracious and merciful presence in our lives.
Father God, our Glorious and Awesome King, holy, holy, holy is Your name. Thank you for sending Jesus and Your Holy Spirit to be friends that are closer than a brother. Thank you for enabling this relationship, and longing for it so much that You sacrificed everything in order to provide it. We embrace Your grace and mercy, praising Your name to the highest heavens for You alone are worthy of our praise. All glory, honor and thanksgiving be unto You, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training