1 Samuel

1 Samuel 30: David recovers all that was taken

Begin in prayer

Before we stand in the ashes of Ziklag with David, and learn how the LORD answered David and gave back all that was taken, let us pray together. Ask Him to strengthen us, and to show us Jesus.

Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Psalm 84:12

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You answer those who call on You, and help us to trust You in our losses. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The Amalekites burned Ziklag and took the women and children captive, so David and his men wept until they had no more power to weep. The people spoke of stoning David, but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. David asked the LORD whether to pursue the raiders, and the LORD answered, “Pursue,” and promised that they would recover all. David pursued with four hundred men, while two hundred were too faint to cross the brook Besor. An Egyptian servant led them to the Amalekites, and David struck them from twilight to evening. David rescued his wives and everything that had been taken, and he shared the plunder with those who had stayed behind.

As you read 1 Samuel 30, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD answers David when he asks, and He gives back all that the raiders took.

David came home to Ziklag and found it burned, with the women and children carried off (verses 1 to 3). These were the Amalekites Saul had been told to destroy (chapter 15 verse 3). David and his men wept until they had no strength left, and the people spoke of stoning David (verses 4 to 6). In the middle of this grief, David found his strength in the LORD his God (verse 6). He asked the LORD by the ephod, and the LORD said to pursue and recover all (verses 7 and 8). Two hundred men were too weak to cross the brook Besor, so David went on with four hundred (verses 9 and 10). They found a sick Egyptian slave left behind by the Amalekites, fed him, and he led them to the camp (verses 11 to 16). David struck the Amalekites from twilight to the evening of the next day and recovered everything that was taken (verses 17 to 19). He shared the plunder with all, even those who stayed behind, saying the LORD had given it (verses 23 and 24).

How does 1 Samuel 30 show us that the LORD answers David when he asks, and gives back all that the raiders took?

David strengthens himself in the LORD.

Ziklag was burned, and David's two wives and all the families were gone (verses 1 to 5). David and his men wept until they had no more power to weep (verse 4). The people spoke of stoning David, because they were grieved (verse 6). David strengthened himself in the LORD his God (verse 6).

The LORD answers when His servant asks.

David asked Abiathar for the ephod and inquired of the LORD whether to pursue (verses 7 and 8). The LORD answered, Pursue, for you will surely overtake them and recover all (verse 8). Two hundred men were too faint to cross the brook, and David went on with four hundred (verses 9 and 10). An Egyptian servant, sick and left to die, led them to the Amalekites (verses 11 to 16).

The LORD gives back all that was taken.

David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and nothing was lacking, small or great (verses 18 and 19). He rescued his two wives and all the families (verse 18). He shared the plunder with the men who stayed at the brook, saying the LORD had given it (verses 23 and 24). Jesus said the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19 verse 10).

Memorise

Pursue; for you will surely overtake them, and will without fail recover all.

1 Samuel 30:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I strengthen myself in the LORD when I have lost much?

Ziklag lay burning, and the families were gone. David strengthened himself in the LORD his God, and the LORD said, “Pursue; for you will surely overtake them, and will without fail recover all.”

We have lost something far greater, our peace with God, and our sin took it from us. No one could win it back by pursuing. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He went to the cross and paid the whole debt of His people's sin, and God raised Him from the dead. He will lose none of those the Father gave Him (John 6 verse 39).

He is still seeking. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven, and the loss that sin brought is made good.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD answers those who ask Him, and that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Parents, you may want to explain verses 22 to 24 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He answered David and gave back all that was taken, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten

Joel 2:25

Father, You answered David and gave back all that was taken. Thank You that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Teach us to strengthen ourselves in You when we have lost much. Keep us close to You this week. Amen.