(1 Sam 30:1-2) Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.
Have you ever had a loved one kidnapped? No, I don’t mean taken away from you physically. They are still with you but it’s like they’re somewhere else. Distant. Far away. Remote. And you just can’t reach them. How do you deal with that? How do you live with that dynamic in your relationship? And most importantly . . . how do you get them back?
David had been away from his home in Ziklag with his men of war. When they returned they found that the Amalekites had attacked Ziklag, plundered it, and then burned it with fire. They had also taken captive the women and children. Kidnapped! Items can be replaced but treasured ones cannot. David and all the people wept. His own wives had been taken captive. Blame shifting prevailed and it landed on David. The people spoke of stoning him! But then it says David strengthened himself in the Lord. He sought the Lord and God told him what to do. He and his men pursued the Amalekites and attacked them successfully and recovered all. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. (1 Sam 30:19)
What about you? Has the blame landed on you like it did on David? Might the biggest source of blame be coming from yourself? If only I had done this. If only I had done that. Now I’ve lost touch with that significant other. They’ve been kidnapped. They’re so close but so far away at the same time. It’s driving me crazy. We can’t exist like this forever. The stress is too great. My heart is so grieved. What can I do?
The outlook didn’t look so well for David, so he tried the uplook. He encouraged himself in the Lord. (No one else was going to!) He had a talk with himself and told himself he was going to have to trust in the Lord. God had never failed him. He had been with him before and He was going to be with him again. Is it time for you to have a good talk with yourself and encourage yourself in the Lord?
Then David sought the Lord. God answered him and gave him a strategy. It worked! As we seek the Lord God will give us wisdom on what to do . . . and sometimes more importantly . . . what not to do!
David recovered all. There wasn’t one person or possession missing. That loved one might feel as if they’ve been abducted and taken to another planet. Or it might feel as if they have been implanted with an alien brain while standing right next to you! But don’t worry. They’ll be back. Remember . . . God loves your loved ones more than you . . . and . . . David recovered all!
Louie