Fridays with David

Read 1 Samuel 30:17-20 – Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 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. Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.” (NKJV)

Much has been restored in David’s life. His focus on God and trust in His direction has been renewed. His life as a leader has been re-established in a strength not known since his last encounter with Saul. And now, what others tried to take from him has been recovered from the raiding Amalekites. David’s renewed pursuit of God’s direction has brought him back on the course God has for his life. And seemingly just in time. The end of Saul’s kingdom is at hand. What a great illustration of God’s desire for restoration. David had failed to trust God and taken many actions in his own wisdom. But once he returned to trusting God, David saw God’s hand in powerful ways. That’s what God does for us as well. He doesn’t discard us in our times of failure, but continues to work to redeem us.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.