In the midst of trial, weakness, and hurt, we read these words. What an insight to this man we call, "a man after God's own heart". It is true that he would be given such a privileged legacy to be remembered by, but at this moment in his life, I doubt he was seeing good to come. Things were not going his way, the Philistine princes refused to allow him and his men to fight although there was no real reason, and had sent him away. As he journeys in the opposite direction from the battle he desired to be fighting, he comes to one he did not desire to be involved in. Upon approaching his vagabond home, the place where his family had been dwelling during their time of fleeing King Saul, more distressing news came.
Ziklag, had been attacked and burned with fire. David's wives had been taken captive along with all the other people of the city. The sound of weeping came over all; and soon their weeping turned to anger toward David. Out of his control, not how he desired things to go; yet here, in the midst of the fire of affliction, men are threatening to stone David.
Can you imagine being in such a place? We complain as it is when we don't get our way, when a small thing does not go as we had planned or we can't be apart of something we really felt we were supposed to be apart of. Here is David, in the midst of so much burning. So many things he loved and held dear, burned, and his very support throwing more coal into the flames. How did he react?
We read here, "But David strengthened himself in the Lord His God."
He inquired of the Lord. He laid aside his present emotions, and took up the matter before God in prayer. He asked the Lord what he was to do.
I can only imagine the humble tone of his request. A man who had been on the run for years, his life in harms way due to King Saul, displaced, rejected, accused, and now grieving for the captivity of the one's he loved. Im sure thoughts were running through his head, thoughts of, "So this is the way life is for those anointed by God?" He could of thrown up his fist and complained about how unfair it is that his rightful throne was not his present seat; instead he sits around those who desire to stone him for things that have happened outside of his control.
And in such a place as this, we find him inquiring of the Lord.
Our God responded to such a humble, helpless cry, and strengthened the heart of His servant, David. "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." (vs. 8b). The battle plan would begin in such a place, the "Brook Besor" a place meaning "glad news".
From there, David and his men would go forth, fight, and recover all, just as the Lord had promised. The way of victory was shown to them, by one of the enemies' Egyptian servants they found along the way. He was hungry and in need. By David and his men extending their hand to him and meeting his physical needs with food and water, he lead them on to the enemies camp where they were able to overtake the army.
Is this not the way that our God works? He brings good from the ashes (Isaiah 61:3). In the midst of the fire, or the aftermath of fires, He will lead those who look to His lead to "Brooks of Besors"...to places of glad news. He will often allow things that happen in our lives to bring us back to the simplicity and humbleness of our salvation...of the good news of the Gospel. Once in that place, when we take on the gospel, and go forth with it, extending our souls to feed the hungry and ministering to those in need, our God will shine forth light to our path, and lead us to victory (Isaiah 58:10-11). Our God has promised to guide us continually, if only we will come to a humble place of allowing Him to guide. We can see the burned cities in our life, the present difficulties, the threats of stones, and throw up our fists and walk away, or remain hurt and taken captive by the things that have happened, or we can inquire of the Lord in the midst of the ashes, and allow Him to make beauty from that which has been burned.
Beauty comes as we give out.
You may feel that you have nothing left to give, you may feel that all has been stripped from you, but it was when David was in that state, that another in need was brought along his path, and by aiding to his care, God opened the door to victory, restoring to David that which had been lost.
Application for today:
When waters seem to rise about me, I wanna ask that Lord to turn these waters into Brook Besors. Into opportunities for "glad news" to share His good news of the gospel with those who have been burned by the sin of this world. How to do this? By humbling myself under His control, under His sovereignty in the situation, and allow His Spirit to give me the strength to get up and keep walking along the road...giving of myself to others in need. I think of this as I am preparing to leave for Africa. One week from now, i will be there, more than likely i will find myself daily walking down roadways where there will be people in need of love. Opportunities to bring them a drink from the Brook Besor. To share with them the love of Christ through something so small as a smile and a hug. Jesus said that if we give to one of the little one's a drink, it is as if we are giving to Him a drink (Matthew 25:40). I desire to serve my Lord by serving His people. As we serve, He works on our hearts. Dear Jesus, please lead me to drink from and share from You Brooks! Amen.
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