The Lord Restores

Uplook – July/August 2024 — Grace & Truth Magazine

The Lord Restores

Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. —1 Samuel 30:4 JND

Here we see David and his mighty men defeated, not only by awful circumstances into which they had put themselves, but also by the enemy, the Amalekites. What a scene! All that they had possessed was totally gone. Their strength failed, and they had no courage to face the future. It is a dramatic experience when a soul comes to the realization that nothing remains but God! All that they had valued and loved was gone; only God remained.

Sometimes God, in His grace, allows things to happen in our lives that we do not understand. These things bring us to our knees with David’s prayer on our lips: “Search me O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts” (Ps. 139:23) – even the anxious and conflicting thoughts.

A soul at a distance from God is in despair. David’s men were ready to stone him. Their faith in David was gone, and they blamed him for what had happened. Disappointments in life and unfulfilled desires often breed bitterness in our hearts, even to the extent that we cast stones at the Lord’s Anointed. What a terrible thing it is to blame the Lord Jesus for our troubles!

It is His desire to bless us. David wept with them, but he went before the LORD about the situation. He not only felt the loss, just as his men did, but on top of that he also experienced their anger. When those last and final blows were received, he turned the eye of faith to God and strengthened himself in Jehovah, his God (vv.7-8). This is a lesson for us. Let us likewise, go to the Lord. His grace is infinitely greater than our failures and our needs. He is the One who restores.

By Klaas Rot