Word for the Day December
12
By: Pastor John Hammack
"But David found strength
in the Lord his God." 1 Sam. 30:6
In 1 Samuel chapter 30, David
and his men returned to Zicklag after the Philistines would not let them fight Israel with them. When they arrived there,
they found their city destroyed by fire and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive. David and his men wept aloud
until they had no more strength left to weep. Because everyone's families were taken, the men were talking about stoning
David. It is hard to imagine how David felt. Not only did his family get taken, but his men were thinking
about stoning him. But he did not let his circumstances destroy him. He put aside his feelings and his men's feelings
toward him and he inquired of God. He could have gotten mad at God for allowing such a horrible thing to happen
or he could have given up. Instead, he sought the Lord. 1 Samuel 30:7-8 says "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.""
This is an important lesson in the Bible because it shows us that we have to seek God and that we still have to go no matter
what comes our way. 1 Samuel 30 goes on to say that David and four-hundred of his men wiped out the Amalekites
who had raided their city and they recovered everything. "Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder
or anything else they had taken." 1 Samuel 30:19 So David didn't lose anything. But God required David
to seek Him and He required him to go fight the Amalekites and take it by force.
Sometimes we don't understand the things we go through. But if we pray and seek God, He will have an answer.
And if we are willing to go and take it by force, He will deliver the enemy or circumstance into our hand.
"And from the days
of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
Matthew
11:12