Joel M Bradshaw

1Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2and taken captive the women and all^a who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.–1 Samuel 30

David had just been told to go home by the Philistine kings. And our verses today described the scene he and his men found. Let’s look at how David responded and the example it is for us when we go through our difficult situations in life. Let’s walk through the passage together.

 4Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

David led his men in LAMENTATION. To lament is to be open and genuine with your emotions before God. Psalm 13 is my favorite lamentation of David. Right away, David and his men were honest about their feelings and didn’t hide them away. When done appropriately, this is very healthy. David went to God in his pain and with his pain.

Back in chapter 22, men who were already bitter in soul gathered to David and he became like a shepherd to them. It’s the same form of Hebrew words here. Bitter people respond in bitterness. And they wanted to kill David. But in his lamentation to God, David FOUND STRENGTH IN GOD. I would imagine David began to adjust his inner story to reflect God’s sovereignty. It would also make sense that David in his lack of control began to trust God. Maybe he uttered this famous line here.

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! (Psalm 31:14-15)

7And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8And 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.”9So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

Before David did anything rash, he INQUIRED OF GOD. This would be the equivalent for us of going to the Bible and also inquiring of a mature Christian friend or pastor who will then use the Bible in giving counsel.

Finally, David RESPONDED TO THE DIRECTION OF GOD. The rest of the chapter detailed how David led his men to obey God in their crisis situation.

1. Lament to God.
2. Adjust your inner story and outer attitude to God.
3. Seek biblical counsel.
4. Move forward in faith.

I pray this helps!–JMB