Photo credit: www.highergroundaaa.com
Exposition
Do you sometimes ask why me, when terrible situations seem unending? Or do you ask yourself, who have I offended or when will the problems end? David had been on the run from Saul for a while and after been delivered from Saul’s hands, he went home to join with the Philistines to fight against Israel. He went back home to Ziklag and found the place burnt by the Amalekites. To add insult to injury, women and children had been taken captive.
Verse 4 says David and his men wept until they didn’t have the strength to weep anyone. It was a time of great sorrow for everyone and suddenly the people turned on David as their scapegoat. They talked of stoning him.
In life, bad things sometimes happen to good people. Situations like untimely death, life changing accidents, sickness, job and financial loss, Business collapse, serious emotional setbacks and so on. How do you respond? Do you immediately look for whom to blame? It’s alright to express the way you feel but will blame solve the problem? Secondly, who do you turn to in such times?
David did not start a “pity party”. He did not wait for anyone to console him or fill with solutions. He decided to exchange his weakness for the strength of God as Verse 6 tells us. He went to the One who gives beauty for ashes and a joyous blessing instead of mourning. He must have remembered what his God had done in the past and also His promises.
With the strength he received, he inquired of the Lord. He could easily have decided to go to after the Amalekites, considering what was at stake. It is natural for a soldier to attack. It is said that attack is the best form of defence.
It is good to take everything to God in prayer. It is easy to continue taking a path because that is the tradition or it has always been done like that. It worked for my friend so it has to work for me. David said, shall I pursue, shall I overtake? God told David to pursue and God added a promise – you shall surely overtake and recover all.
Therefore there is an assurance that as you inquire from God what to do, everything that has been stolen, you will recover. Every situation that looks like a defeat will be turned into a victory in Jesus name. Turn to Jesus today, wipe off the tears and get on your knees and pray.
Joseph Scriven wrote the song below with you in mind !!
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Prayer
I ask for strength to rise up today. Teach my hands to war, O Lord. Let every attempt by the enemy to deposit sorrow and mourning be nullified in Jesus name. As I stand up in prayer, let me recover all the enemy has stolen in one form or the other. Let your name be glorified in Jesus name. Amen.
Bible Reading Plan in 26 weeks (Be part of the Bible Reading Program)
Day 40
Exodus 8-9
Judges 17
Job 40
Jeremiah 40
Mark 12
1 Corinthians 12
No comments:
Post a Comment