”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, 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.“
I Samuel 30:1-2 NKJV
a. Now it happened: It certainly happened, but it didn’t happen by accident. God had a purpose for all of this in David’s life.
i. “On the third day indicates that David and his men covered about twenty-five miles a day on the march south from Aphek to Ziklag, where they would have arrived tired, hungry and expecting all the comforts of a welcome home.” (Baldwin)
b. The Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire: While David and his men were to the north trying to join the Philistine army, their own city of Ziklag was unguarded. The opportunistic Amalekites took advantage of the defenseless city, attacked it and burned it with fire.
c. Taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great: Not only was the city burned, but all their women and children were taken away. There is a touch of the LORD’s poetic justice in all this. David brought this exact calamity on other cities. 1 Samuel 27:8-11 says during his time among the Philistines, David made his living as a bandit, robbing cities and whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive. The Amalekites were more merciful than David was.
i. God, who is great in mercy, does not discipline us as much as we deserve. Like a compassionate father He tempers the stroke of His hand with kindness and love. (Guzik)
Now It Happened!
Tragedies happen in this fallen world to everyone at one time or another and when it happens, we say why me Lord?
In David’s case, “it didn’t happen by accident. God had a purpose for all of this in David’s life.”
I am reminded of A Psalm of David
”The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.“
Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
When it happens to you, lean on Him for comfort and guidance.
His open arms are waiting for you.
Blessings
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