“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 everyone else 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 reached 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. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “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.” 1 Samuel 30.1-8
“You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4.2
God’s Word is consistent. Why? Because God does not change. What you read about the Lord in the Old Testament is true of God in the New Testament. His character is the same. He does not get petty, moody, or temperamental. God is not a human being. He is Holy Other. This is why we can read a passage in 1 Samuel 30 and James 4, which are 800 years apart, and they teach the same thing. In addition, what we read today, written 2800 and 2000 years ago, still applies. As I said, God does not change.
David was in trouble. His wives, children, and those of his fellow soldiers had been abducted by the Amalekites while they were away. Now they had to get them back. But could they do so with success? Even David’s men were so upset they were thinking about stoning David. To repeat myself—David was in a mess. How was he going to rescue all his family who had been taken captive? He did what only a man of God should do—he inquired of the Lord.
First, he found strength in the Lord, v. 6, and then he called the priest Abiathar and asked him to bring the ephod, the holy garment used for praying and inquiring of the Lord. When David had the ephod, he asked God two specific questions: 1) Shall I pursue this raiding party? And, 2) Will I overtake them? God spoke back to David (I do not know if it was audible or an impression on David’s heart), and God said, “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
If David was a man after God’s own heart and inquired of the Lord often, then so should we. Nothing is too large or too small for the Lord. Think about a loving earthly father—he loves to help his children. When my kids call me, I am happy to help, encourage, and support. Now, how much more does our Heavenly Father want to help His created order? We, who are made in His likeness, are His precious children. As the verse in James suggests, “we do not have because we do not ask God.”
Now, what are you needing from God? What do you want to ask Him? What will you inquire of Him as it pertains to your life circumstances? There should be no hesitation from us, His kids. We are to ask, not according to just our needs or desires, but according to His good purposes for our lives.
Ask, and it will be given to you, says the author of Matthew 6. Let this be true of us this day!
“O Lord God, I ask for wisdom, for obedience, for holiness. I ask to be more like You, to focus less on me. I ask for fruitfulness in ministry, in relationships. I ask for joy, happiness, and contentment in You. I ask for a full indwelling of Your Spirit and to walk in that strength and power each and every day so the world might know You, Lord Jesus. Come now, Lord, let us dwell together. Draw me to Your throne that I might be fully Yours, and You might be mine. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen