Booty Call

“And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” 1 Samuel 30:1-4 KJV

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 KJV

Talk about a bad day capping the top of a mountain of a series of bad events.

It’s been a tough row to hoe for several years now. Many of us are distressed. We want relief. We’re tired of waiting and we’re tired of warring. I suppose many of us could relate to David as we look at this particular scene. I’m not going to go into great detail because I already wrote about this incident in my post, “Lone Follower, Encourage Me, encourage me”. I will say, though, that I wonder how many of us are taking the time, even though we are battle weary, to encourage ourselves in the LORD and inquire of Him as to where we should go from here. I believe I have a word for you today . . . if you can/will receive it.

“And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” 1 Samuel 30:8 KJV

“And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. 1 Samuel 30:17-19 KJV

(The bold print and the italics are my addition.)

“David recovered all.” This used to excite me, and it still does. But today I’m going to go further because the LORD, in His goodness, has given me fresh eyes to dig a little deeper in this particular chapter. He showed me something a while back through another minister and since it resurfaced today, I believe it’s something the good LORD wants me to present to you.

“And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.” 1 Samuel 30:20 KJV

The LORD strengthened David and his troops to not only recover all, but to take the spoil as well! Listen people, the devil has been stealing from us, he’s been having a heyday the world around, but guess what? Only those who are encouraging themselves in the LORD, and inquiring of the LORD, and are obedient to His voice to do what He says, recovers all. And I might add, they get the booty. Can you get excited about that? Maybe not. Maybe I caught you on a “bad” day, a glum day, a gray day. Could you, like David, encourage yourself in the LORD? Because I believe I am giving you His direction for today which is pursue, overtake, recover all, and plunder.

Come along with me, a little further, to see what the LORD opened my eyes to today:

“And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord;” 1 Samuel 30:26 KJV

David’s vision was restored. Remember, he wasn’t king yet. He shared the spoil, he gave to people who could possibly affect his future. This is vital for today.

“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” Luke 16:9 KJV

In plain English, the use of the temporary wealth and riches of this world goes beyond affecting our futures here, which it most definitely can. It goes into eternity by taking with it souls that have been reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we have the privilege of seeing what our gifts do here, but I assure you that our gifts have potential for a vastness the likes of which we can’t even fathom. Only Heaven will tell how many souls we have sent on ahead of us through our giving to those who are taking the Word to the world around. It’s mind blowing!

I hope you will join me as I sum up our edict for today:

1. Be encouraged in the LORD. We MUST begin here.
2. Pursue
3. Overtake
4. Recover all
5. Plunder
6. Share

I pray this has blessed you as much as it has blessed me. Be strong, dear friends, and be encouraged in the LORD!