Thursday, June 3: 1Samuel 30-What should I do Lord?

 

The providential gift of God to send David and his men home rather than into battle with the Philistines was far greater than I first realized. Had David and his men gone into battle, no one knows when they would have returned home. By then, the trail of the marauders who destroyed Ziklag, kidnapped their families and stole their belongings and livestock, would have grown cold. David and his men would have lost everything! God’s providence not only averted the disaster but brought a GREAT victory.  It also increased David’s wealth and his stature before his men and the Israelites living in the area, since David shared his wealth with them (26-30).

But the aspect of the account that caught my attention was David’s immediate reaction to the destruction of Ziklag. David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.… each one was 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”… and David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" (4-8)

After honest, expressive grief (David was never afraid to show his emotions), David turned to God for direction. To me, this is a commanding illustration of a life lived full-out with God. In tragedy David weeps and grieves, he hurts and crumbles… until they had no strength left to weep. This was real heartfelt emotion. Then rung out, David does not set out on some emotion-crazed vendetta, nor does he sink into a black hole of despondence. No, he turns to his Lord God for strength and wisdom… strength to continue living and wisdom to know what to do next!

O, God, there is so many life lessons in this account. This passage is a veritable goldmine of principles for living.

It is okay to have emotion, to be wracked with emotion. As humans we feel emotion, You made us that way. And it is honoring to You, our maker, to live them out appropriately!

You have built us for relationship, we can turn to You any and every time we need help. Crushed by the weight of his loss, David turns to You for strength. David knows You are his Rock and Source…

And then before he acts, David seeks Your wisdom, Your direction, Your will. Brilliant! Before he runs off half-crazed, due to his loss, he re-centers his life and actions in YOU.

Jesus, teach me to live like this. Teach me to be so open and transparent with You. Guide me to such a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit, that of my life it might be said, I was a man after Your own heart. Amen.

 

 

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