As far as David was concerned, there was no reason for anyone to be having a party. He had arrived home with his soldiers to find that enemies had burned down his home and stolen his family. His soldiers had lost their homes and families too. And to make matters worse, everyone blamed him and even talked about stoning him to death.
David had every reason to be discouraged. True, he had killed the giant Goliath who wanted to harm God’s people. And the king’s own son, Jonathan, was his friend. And God had even told the prophet Samuel to anoint David’s head with oil to show that he would someday be king. But King Saul was so jealous of David that he wanted to kill him. So David had been forced to run away from the palace and was living in the land of his enemies. Now his family was gone, his home was burnt and his soldiers were angry.
David knew that he still had one thing left that he could do—he could pray. He knew God was with him, and only God could help him now. He did pray, and God helped him in a wonderful way.
David and his soldiers set out to find their wives and children. God was with them, and soon they found a young man who had been left behind in a field because he had gotten sick. This young man had been with the enemies who had stolen David’s family! He had not eaten for three days, so David and his soldiers gave him water and food. When he felt better, he said, “Promise that you won’t give me back to my master and I’ll show you where they are.” David promised, and the young man led them to the enemies.
David looked down from the hills where he and his soldiers were hiding and saw that his enemies were eating, drinking and dancing. They were having a party!
Down in that camp there was lots to eat and lots of fun. But would you have liked to join that party? If they had known David and his soldiers were ready to attack from the hills at any moment, they wouldn’t have been celebrating. But they weren’t thinking about David.
Boys and girls, the world we live in is like that party. Many people have turned away from the One that God has chosen to be King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. They have made themselves enemies of God by their sins. They have parties and dances and don’t even think about the Lord Jesus. They don’t even know or care that the Lord Jesus is someday coming back to punish His enemies and to be King.
Are you on God’s side or are you against Him? Have you come to Him to have your sins washed away in His precious blood? There is no other Saviour and no other way to be on God’s side. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)).
David and his men did attack. They charged right into the middle of that party with their weapons, and most of their enemies were killed. But all the wives and children of David and his soldiers were safely rescued!
If you have not chosen to follow the Lord Jesus, you may soon find that one of your parties or good times will be cut short when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven. “Yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them ... and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-32For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2‑3)).
Don’t wait until it is too late. Call upon the Lord Jesus today. He loves you dearly and wants to save you from the judgment that is coming soon upon this world. There’s not much time left. Will you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now?
You may read this story for yourself in 1 Samuel 30.
ML-04/05/2015