As we read 1 Samuel chapter 30, we’re going to be asking ourselves three vital questions.
Here’s a little background. In 1 Samuel 30, David destroys the Amalekites. Prior to that, he finds himself living among the Philistines because Saul, the king of Israel, is trying to kill him. He and his men settled in Gath with King Achish. David asked Achish if they could be assigned to a city. So, he gave David Ziklag.
King Achish trusted David because he was fighting on their side, but not all of the Philistines trusted David because they thought he was going to turn on them.
In the meantime, God had stopped talking to King Saul of Israel because of his disobedience. Now, he’s seeking out a witch at Endor to conjure up the prophet Samuel, who had died, to hear what the Lord had to say. Of course, that didn’t work well.
Now we find ourselves at 1 Samuel 30:1-5 NIV
And the first question I want to ask as you listen to these verses is: Who Holds Your Dreams?
David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
3 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
So here it is, David and his men moved to Ziklag and finally settled down. Saul had stopped chasing him and they think they’re at peace. NOW it would seem that the Amalekites stole their dreams. John 10:10 NIV, says 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” So, whether the enemy is stealing from you directly or using self-serving people to steal from you it’s still the enemy.
Here’s Principal #1- No matter what happens, “Only God Holds Your Dreams.”
Question #2- What’s Stopping You From Your Dreams?
1 Samuel 30:6-8 NIV reads,
6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”
“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
Principal #2 – Only You Can Stop You!
David could have sat there, wallowed in self-pity, and allowed the men to stone him, BUT he CHOSE to do something. He found comfort and instruction in the Lord.
Here’s…
Question #3 – How Are You Going to Pick Up Your Dreams Again?
Look at 1 Samuel 30:9-10 NIV. 9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. 10 Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.
Principal #3 – comes from (James 2:17) – Faith Without Works is Dead
God told them exactly what to do and He even told them the outcome. BUT they still had a decision to make. God has told many of us what to do. AND WE STILL HAVE A CHOICE TO DO OR NOT WHAT HE SAYS.
David and his men made the right decision. And the outcome is seen in verses 18 and 19 He recovered ALL and Nothing was missing! David brought back everything. PLUS, they plundered the Lord’s enemies. Remember you always come out better with the LORD.
The enemy might be saying to you, BUT 200 hundred of the men were too tired to go, so they shouldn’t get anything. He said the same thing to the some of the men that were actually there.
God’s not like that…you might need to rest for a while and regain your strength to go after the purpose God has for you.
Don’t worry. Here’s what David said in 1 Samuel 30:24b NIV, “…The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.”
So, change the picture in your mind. You haven’t lost. Just like David and his men—You will recover all. God holds your dreams, your purpose, in His hands. Only you can stop you, BUT don’t do that– talk to God, pick up that dream again, and get to work. God’s got you!
Understanding that is the point of purpose…see you next time.
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