KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Sam 30:1 KJV And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

David, with his six hundred men, including their wives and children lodged at Ziglag. A band of Amalekites raided the camp at a time when the men were not around. Has the Lord failed David and his men, since the Lord assured David of his protection? Before we take a look at that question, can we consider why calamity comes the way of the people of God? Let’s consider some reasons why trouble does come to the righteous.

1. Trouble may come as a result of one’s disobedience to God. Rom 2:9, 10

2. Trouble may come not because of one’s mistakes but as a result of man’s fallen nature, that gives Satan the right to attack men 2 Corinthians 4:2.

3. God also allows certain crises to come to His saints to test their reliance on Him and to ultimately show His power in the life of that child of God.

In David’s case, I believe, the Lord allowed it to show his great power to deliver him from imminent troubles. In this raid, the Amalekites took every woman with her children and burnt down the. Whole campsite.

When he and his men returned to see the devastated campsite. Each man wept for his loss. They got so desperate to the point that they said they would stone David. He indeed restrained himself by not accusing anybody. He rather encouraged himself in the Lord. He enquired from the Lord whether to pursue the raiders or not. The Lord asked him to go after them, and that he would recover all. David pursued them. He did go after them, and to the glory of God, they recovered everything.

When trouble hits us, we may grieve the situation, but that should be for a very short moment. David encouraged himself in the Lord. He might have rehearsed some of God’s glorious promises of protection and general goodwill towards Him. Always talk to the Lord about His eternal goodness and faithfulness. Put your confidence in Him. Seek his counsel as to what to do. Do not fight the problem, that is to complain about what has happened, or to play the blame game. Find ways to solve the matter and follow through with the plan to reverse what has happened. If it’s an issue that you can’t do anything about, I then accept that you should not worry about it, but encourage yourself to go on with your life.

PRAYER

Dear Father, we pray for all those in deep crises that you show them a way of escape. Strengthen those who need to be consoled and heal those who have been stricken with some disease.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Cor 10:13 KJV” There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

James 5:13 KJV Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing.