Last week I spoke about how our attitude determines the outcome and duration of the trials that we face. Its human nature to spiral into a state of depression, hopelessness and defeat when we are faced with adversity and disappointment. In moments like these, we need to look to God and to scripture for strength and comfort. King David had many such moments and it’s interesting to read about David’s deep faith and relationship he had with God. The Story in 1 Samuel chapter 30 gives us keys to success as we battle with our own discouragements and setbacks
Samuel 30
30 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, 2 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. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
The last stage of David’s wanderings had brought him to Ziklag, a Philistine city. Ziklag was far away, from where David was used to and for David it was a place of hardship and testing. At this time David was about thirty years old, and had had his character tested and matured by his hard experiences. He ‘learned in suffering what he taught in song.’ Exile, poverty, and danger are harsh but effectual teachers, if accepted by a devout spirit, and fronted with brave effort. The fugitive’s cave was a good preparation for the king’s palace. I sense the Lord saying “
“Many of my people are in a spiritual Ziklag – a place of great distress and loss but my divine time is in control of all things. It may appear to be the worst day of their life but its the third day on my calendar”.
The phrase “third day” is used in Scripture as a symbol for the day of fulfillment, restoration and resurrection. Our key scripture is”
Hosea 6:1-3, which promises that “on the third day, the LORD will restore us”.
Some of the powerful events the Scripture mentions as happening on the “third day”.
- Abraham was prepared to offer Isaac and was honored by God!
- Joshua crossed over into the promise land
- Hezekiah added years to his life
- Ester put on her royal robes and found favor with the king
- Jonah was released from the belly of the whale.
- Jesus turned water into wine!
- And most significantly Jesus Christ rose literally from the dead
Notice another thing. The enemy “slew” not any of the wives or children. Even though the enemy had stolen these family members Gods hand of protection was still upon them. Although the enemy had taken them captive he could not kill them because God was still on the throne.
The scripture goes on to say that David strengthened himself in the LORD. I could never understand how David “strengthened” himself in the LORD with all the people blaming him and wanting to stone him for what happened. What could David ever think about that would encourage and strengthen him to go and take back what the enemy had stolen?
I personally believe one scripture that David remembered was:
Psalm
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
And then it dawned on him. It’s the third day! Three always means Divine and anything that’s Divine has supernatural power in it. If this is God’s timing for the enemy to come against us to steal, then it must be God’s timing to take back what he has stolen! David went on to recover all that the enemy had taken from them and destroyed the enemy.
from the dead. If God can raise the dead what else can’t He do? The “third day”
The third day Jesus made our enemy our footstool. Take a break from your worst day
and rest your feet on the devil’s neck! The devil is really not that big, he can fit
underneath your feet! You will recover all that the enemy has taken from you. The
longer the devil keeps what belongs to you, the more interest he has to pay you when
from the dead. If God can raise the dead what else can’t He do? The “third day”
The third day Jesus made our enemy our footstool. Take a break from your worst day
and rest your feet on the devil’s neck! The devil is really not that big, he can fit
underneath your feet! You will recover all that the enemy has taken from you. The
longer the devil keeps what belongs to you, the more interest he has to pay you when
Don’t wait for someone else to encourage you for everyone is fighting their own
battles. The battle on the field is won in the prayer closet. God will meet you there and
speak to you and you will no longer hear the voice of strangers or the enemy taunting you for he will give you a WORD.
Kingdom Embassy.HFM 