Subject – Taking Back What is Rightfully Yours
by Rick Welborne
1 Samuel 30:1-19 (NIV)
1 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 all who were 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 came to 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.
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.
1 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 all who were 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 came to 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.
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.
--David has lived like a fugitive for years running from Saul…hiding in caves. Living however he could.
--David knows God has anointed him to be the next King of Israel but the promise seems more like a distant dream than a present reality.
--He has had his run-ins with the Philistines and the band of men with him are not necessarily in the Who’s Who of society. When you think things cannot get worse they return home to find everyone gone…burned!
--Their city (Ziklag) has been burned and their wives and children taken away. Now his men are so hurt they are talking of stoning David…grief upon grief. So how did David recover everything?
1. David found strength in the Lord.
1 Samuel 30:6 (NIV)
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.
--But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength! David has cried so hard and so long that he has no strength left. After waiting on the Lord, he found new strength.
--Waiting does not always have to be a long period of time but it must be sincere…David did not have much time since his men were speaking of stoning him.
--Important note in recovering all…someone has to lead…get God’s strength and lead…be God’s man!
2. David determined to inquire of the Lord.
1 Samuel 30:7-8 (NIV)
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "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."
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."
--David determined that knowing God’s will was of utmost importance…he had to pray…why? The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective!
--Yes, we must pray without ceasing but it is ok in the middle of the storm to pray with intensity. David knew it would require of him to be a living sacrifice unto the Lord!
3. David received a Rhema Word from the Lord.
1 Samuel 30:8 (NIV)
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."
--Once God has spoken to your heart…then, hang on to God and pursue them with everything inside of you!
Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
--If it is a God Word, it will come to pass. No matter the setbacks or difficulty, it will happen! Jeremy’s feet!
4. David realized not everyone would help him fight his battle.
1 Samuel 30:9-10 (NIV)
9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind,
10 for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit.
10 for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit.
--Two hundred could not go because they were exhausted…all of us need to get over the illusion that 100% will be there to help us. Just keep your eyes on the Lord! The “Why?” is between them and the Lord. Stay focused!
--Two things will surprise you when you walk thru your valley…you will be surprised by those you thought would be with you and were not. Then, you will be surprised by those you thought would not be with you but were!
--The truth is, leaders lead and those who will, will follow! Our job is to simply fix our eyes on Jesus and lead!
Jesus said to put your hand to the plow and not look back!
5. David received God’s favor in the process.
1 Samuel 30:11-16 (NIV)
11 They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat--
12 part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.
13 David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" He said, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago.
14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag."
12 part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.
13 David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" He said, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago.
14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag."
15 David asked him, "Can you lead me down to this raiding party?" He answered, "Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them."
16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.
16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.
--I do not believe it was a coincidence they ran across this young Egyptian slave. God may of given him a tummy ache so he would be left behind. This favor because they had prayed and sought God’s will.
--As you walk in God’s will, He will arrange divine connections or appointments to help you recover what you have lost. I am sure that David was praying without ceasing and God was answering…this slave.
--We should also pray for those divine encounters for our prodigals, for our families, and for our businesses. Once God has spoken, it will happen, and He will direct your steps!
6. David and his men had to be willing to fight to recover what they had lost.
1 Samuel 30:17 (NIV)
17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.
--James says that faith without works is dead being alone. God wants us to have faith but He also expects us to work with Him in the recovery effort.
--As David looked over the camp of the Amalekites he could have said…OK, God, go get them but he didn’t. He had a passion to go and rescue his family…He was willing to fight with all his might and fight he did.
--There are times when the Lord says…The battle is Mine but there are other times when He says, let’s go boys, we have work to do. We fight but it is God Who gives the victory!
7. David recovered everything…nothing was missing.
1 Samuel 30:18-19(NIV)
18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.
19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.
19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.
--How many of you want to recover everything and have nothing missing?
--How many of you want your families saved and none of them be lost?
--How many of you want your businesses or finances to turn around and nothing be lost?
--How many of you are willing to be thankful and generous like David after the recovery!
1 Samuel 30:21-24 (NIV)
21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them.
22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go."
23 David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us.
24 Who will listen to what you say? 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."
21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them.
22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go."
23 David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us.
24 Who will listen to what you say? 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."
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