(Read 1 Samuel 30:20-26)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Yesterday we saw how the Lord blessed David and 400 of his men to fight the enemy and recover all. I need to highlight something I don’t want overlooked. 200 of David’s 600 men were exhausted by the time the men made it to the Besor brook and they had to stay behind. The 400 who continued pursued the Amalekites for some time and by the time they found the enemy’s camp, it is safe to assume that they were tired as well. Furthermore, they found the enemy’s camp in the evening, so it is safe to assume that they had been in pursuit all day long. And then, without any rest, David and his men rushed into the enemy’s camp and fought them all night and the entire next day until evening. So, they fought for 24 hours, but they had probably been awake at least 36 hours. I point this out to further highlight the grace and power of God. There is no doubt in my mind that God’s grace was on David and his men for the victory. Not because they deserved it (because we know by now that they should have never been living with the Philistines in the first place), not because they were so righteous (because David had made his fair share of mistakes), but simply because God is so good. God was blessing David and keeping him for his purpose, even though he was not perfect along the way.
Not only did David and his men recover everything the enemy had taken — the Bible says, “Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back” — but they also came back with overflowing plunder. In other words, they came back with their stuff and with all the stuff of the Amalekites. As they journeyed back David’s 400 men met up with the 200 who had been left behind. David greeted the men joyfully, but some of his men were not so happy to see them. Some men from within the 400 said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.” Now, consider the fact that these 200 men had been with the other 400 through thick-and-thin. They had fought together, laughed together, cried together, and enjoyed victories together, but because of this one time when they were too tired to go on, some of David’s men were ready to let them go. Thankfully David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us… We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God will give you supernatural power to keep going. We all get tired and most of us don’t get sufficient rest, but when faced with something the Lord is leading you to do, the Father can give you supernatural power that can manifest in physical strength. I am a witness of this. He did it for David in this passage and He will do it for you. Ask God for the strength you need to maximize this day.
2. God wants to bless you because of His grace. David and his men did not earn everything they received and neither will you. Get this in your head: the Father wants to bless you because He is good, not because you have earned it. Do you know that that is called? It’s called grace my friend… GRACE!
3. Don’t forget to give the glory to God. David and his men fought valiantly for over 24hrs., but when it was done, David gave the glory for the victory to God. David acknowledged the fact that the hand of God was on him and his men to fight that day. Please do the same. The Father has and will grace you to win your battles, and when He does, don’t forget to give Him the glory!
4. People will turn on you in a New York-minute. Some of David’s men were ready to dismiss their brothers who had fought, sweated and bled side-by-side with them, just because of one incident. There are a few things to think about here: 1) thank God that He is not this way, 2) never be this way with others, and 3) don’t be surprised if others are this way with you.
5. Recipients of grace should become extenders of grace. When grace comes TO you, the proper response is to allow it to flow THROUGH you. David was a recipient of grace, therefore he became an extender of it and he blessed the men who had been left behind.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for the supernatural power to keep going. I am Your beloved and You give me sweet sleep and rest daily. But on those days where I did not get sufficient rest, or on those occasions where I am physically tired as I am faced with a challenge, I thank You for giving me the grace to keep going. You bless my mind to be alert, my body to be awake, my thoughts to be sharp, my strength to be amplified, and my focus to be clear. You have given me the grace to maximize this day and every day. Not because I am so good, and not because I am sinless, faultless or flawless, but simply because of Your grace. I am convinced that You want to bless me, not because I deserve it, but because You are so good. Your goodness towards me far exceeds my actions towards You. You bless me to experience supernatural victory after supernatural victory and I am committed to always give You the glory for what You have done and what You are doing in my life. I know people will not always treat me the way they should and I know some will turn on me when given the chance, but I declare, by faith, that I will not allow the actions of others to lead me to operate outside of Your will or Your love. I remain in love, I remain in faith, and since I am a recipient of Your grace, I become an extender or it. Grace has come TO me and I will allow Your grace to flow THROUGH me. You use me today Father, as a conduit of Your grace and as an example of Your love. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
