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Read: 1 Samuel 30:6
Introduction:
A blessed morning everyone! Despite not being able to have a face to face fellowship, it did not hinder us to come together in worshiping our Lord through this online platform.I would like to Praise God for keeping us safe always despite our current situation. The Lord is good indeed for His mercies are new every morning.
Let’s pray!
ME:
Just last week we’ve seen and heard how the cases of corona virus increased significantly from just hundreds to thousands of cases a day. Because of that the medical front liners and community appealed for a tighter quarantine restrictions. As we've noticed, the country’s healthcare system is being overwhelmed by the increasing COVID-19 cases of the past few weeks.
I know they're all very tired and they deserve a breather or even a rest. They surely need our prayers. Because of all these, the president declared MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) last Tuesday.
Furthermore, last August 6, we heard the news of the Beirut, Lebanon explosion that killed at least 137 people and left 5,000 wounded.
Also yesterday, an Air India plane crashes in Kerala after skidding off the runway and killed 18 people and left 30 wounded.
Finally last August 6, 2020 at 10 pm I received a call that one of my former basketball players was killed by a gunshot. As their coach for about 5 years, they were not just my players but also my spiritual children. He lost his life at a very young age and its painful to think that it was all caused by the existence of evil in this world.
As I look at these happenings around me, all I can say is, "Lord, I am tired and I am losing strength already."
I don’t know if you've also felt tired because of all the challenges and struggles you have been facing. It seems like all of these sufferings became more real when you became a child of God compared to the times when you were still in rebellion. But you know what, it’s ok to be honest. It's okay to admit that you're tired and you don’t have enough anymore. By acknowledging these you don't rely on your own capabilities anymore, instead God becomes your strength. In Him there is strength.
According to David.
GOD:
1 Samuel 30:6, “ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”
Let see the context of what took place here in the life of David.
David was anointed as the next King of Israel but he ran for his life because his own people and nation was trying to kill him.
Then came a time where he found refuge in Ziklag which was under Philistine territory. Although it was an enemy territory, we’ve seen that David found favor in the eyes of Achish, one of the Philistine leaders, because the Lord was with Him.
Achish gave the land of Ziklag to David and there he built his own family, people and army like his own little kingdom. They lived peacefully there until such time when the great war came between Philistine and Israel.
Because David was in enemy territory that time, he wanted to give his support to Achish so he marched together with them in the Mount of Jezreel. But some Philistine leaders took notice of David for he was a well known warrior over the land especially in Israel. They all questioned his loyalty except for Achish so the Philistine leaders’ decided to dismiss David and his men and send them home.
David and his men left and went back to Ziklag, their home. From Mt. Jezreel to Ziklag it will take them a tiresome travel of 3 days by foot. But what was more tiresome was when they reached Ziklag, a place where they were supposed to find rest but instead they found it to have been attacked, burned and all their families were taken captives.
David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David was greatly distressed because his men were talking about stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters but David found strength in the Lord his God.
Even though David was anointed king which supposed to be a position of greatness, he actually experienced more pain and struggles than greatness. But amidst all that I never read David to have complained in the scripture. He always inquired from God every time he wants to do something. Every time he faced difficult and painful situations, he never resorted to anything that dishonors the Lord. The scripture always says, "He inquired from the Lord". What could be implications of this? I came to realize that the action to inquire from God is the by product of a life that has these characteristics:
1. Absolutely Surrendered to God
In a worldly perspective the word "surrender" implies weakness. We have been taught to "fight and never surrender" but in God's perspective, surrender is the best definition of a victorious life.He said in His word, “Be still and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10). The bible also mentioned, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Ex. 14:14)
"Be still" means to be certain and be totally convinced that He will deliver you. That's why no matter what happens in his life, David would always inquire of the Lord. He knew that he can do nothing without the Lord. He knew that he will not survive any season of his life without the Lord.
Only those whose life are absolutely surrendered will experience His strength. That's why when the Lord said to him to pursue their enemies, he didn't run out of strength. No one who relies on their own strength could ever experience this supernatural strength that God gives.
2. Heart that is willing to obey
We see in David's experience that a life that is surrendered to God will receive instructions, directions and divine revelation from the Lord.Imagine if David did not obey the Lord then, there will be no restoration of everything, no victories at all and no message of God’s faithfulness to tell. You see, it is not just about hearing from God but it’s about acting from what you hear. Disobedience comes from not doing what He wants you to do.
3. Lifestyle of Trust
Throughout David's life, he had a deep trust in God that never wavered no matter what situation faces.Just say for example when God told him that he was going to be king of Israel, he didn't doubt that. He's been through a lot of things that doesn't resemble any kingly experiences. And even though it took him so long to sit on the throne, he never imposed his right but he simply trusted God along the way and I believe that's what made his every victory so sweet.
Conclusion:
One of the best-loved hymns of the faith, " It Is Well With My Soul", was written by Horatio Spafford. Spafford was a wealthy businessman in Chicago who lost much of his real estate holdings in the Great Chicago Fire.After the fire, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to Europe, intending to join them later, for a time of rest as well as to assist Moody and Sankey with a revival in Great Britain. But the voyage was struck by disaster, and Spafford received a cable from his wife with the painful message, “Saved alone.”
Spafford quickly made arrangements to join his wife. When they reached the spot where his daughters had drowned, Spafford marked that sad event with words of hope:
“When peace like a river attendeth my way; when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”
These powerful words written in the midst of such pain are a reminder to us today that even though we may be enduring great suffering and hardship, it is not the end of God’s plan for us.
Sometimes God’s children get discouraged because it appears that life is going better for those who are doing wrong. Yet the end result of both paths is already settled. Those who fear God will be able to say, “It is well.” Those who oppose God will quickly find that the end of their path is death and destruction.
Keeping the end result in mind helps us to keep doing what is right.
Photo by: Jaime Legaspino
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