When David and his men returned to Ziklag the city, they found it in ruin, burned down and destroyed. It was the Amalekites; no doubt, who attacked the south, but worst of all, David and his men found that the women and children were taken captive, including David's wives, Ahinoam and Abigail. The men were shocked, utterly shocked and fell into despair for their families. They did not know what happened to them, and if they were alive, they would be horribly abused. They were gone. All the men fell down, lifted up their voices in crying. Men of war, crying! They cried until they could no longer, and then their sadness and despair became hate and rage. David also was greatly distressed, and his men threatened to stone him, because of this thing. David did not blame them for their feelings then, but he was just as worried as they were. But they looked to him as their leader; they trusted him with their lives and their family's lives. His men were grieved, and he saw it. But David "encouraged himself in the Lord." How did he do so? I'm sure that prayer was one thing and I have no doubt that psalms were written during or perhaps after this challenging event. David prayed to the Lord and asked if he should go after the enemy troop, and if the captives would be found. The Lord told him to go, and strengthen him with the words; "You shall overtake them, and without fail recover all."
So, David and four hundred men all went with him, while two hundred stayed behind, because they were so faint, they could not go in the journey. On the way, David and his men found an Egyptian in the field, sick and weak. Maybe he has seen something and knows of the enemy troop. They fed him, and then his strength returned, after not having anything for three days. David asked him where he was from. The Egyptian answered, and told him that he was a servant to an Amalekite, but his master left him, because he had fallen sick three days ago. He also told David how the Amalekites burned Ziklag with fire. That was the same city where the missing women and children were. Most likely feeling a sense of relief and hope, David asked the Egyptian servant if he could bring them to the company. The servant was fearful at first, but David promised not to deliver him to his master, which had forsaken him. Then the Egyptian servant agreed and brought them down, showing them to the Amalekite camp, and there was a party going on for their victory, with drinking and dancing. After a hard fight, there was victory for David and his men over the Amalekites, and best of all, everything was recovered, including the women and children, who were taken captive. They were unharmed and all recovered. There was nothing lacking and no one was missing. "David recovered all."
It was a time of despair, and then it became rejoicing. The place of failure became the place of victory. The lost was restored and found. I encourage you all, to come into that place of refuge in God, that no matter how dark and helpless things may become, you will know and remember that God is real, and you will encourage yourself in Him. If we would only abide under His shadow, keep our minds stayed on Him and then He will give us perfect peace. Only God can strengthen during trials, and only He can encourage during difficulty. What a mighty God we serve!
A devotion of encouragement
May 3, 2002