"Link" To Recovery & Next Level (1 Sam.30:8)
- Olusegun Emosu
- Apr 28
- 12 min read
Updated: May 5
Text: So David inquired of the LORD, saying , "Shall i pursue this troop? Shall i overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." (1 Sam.30:8).
Introduction, Background & Context:
There was rarely a time of peaceful coexistence between the Amalekites and the Israelites. From time immemorial, the two nations had always been at loggerheads with each other, for whatever reason(s). More often than not, the Amalekites, like the Philistines, were always initiating the several skirmishes against the Israelites. It was a build up of such skirmishes here and there, that culminated in several onslaughts, one of such that befell Ziklag, yet, at the instance of the restless and troublesome Amalekites. Truth be told, at times, they (the Amalekites) conceded some battles to the Israelites. Even at that, the celebrations that greeted such victories, were usually short -lived, as God would soon relent in His anger over His chosen nation, Israel. He would soon reverse the initial losses of the Israelites to victory, with the context in discussion, not an exception. More often than not, the Israelites lost only against their foes each time they committed an infraction against His will, Achan being a good example here, as the main culprit of the loss at the battle against the small city of Ai. He confessed, "indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done..." (Jos.7:20).
The Raid on Ziklag:
Typical of the Amalekites, they planned their strategy on Ziklag in the absence of David and his men. The process of this particular attack did not only deviate from the regular pattern of bloodshed and murders, known with these assailant- Amalekites, it was obvious that they dominated their victims in this raid, by capturing them all, alive. If a group of assailants could capture their victims alive, that is an indication they really were in control of the warfare. It was obviously a battle that intentionally wanted to leave the inhabitants of Ziklag homeless if they ever came back to their base. Hence, the domineering enemies from Amalek resorted to arson. Arson would not only destroy the habitats of the helpless Ziklagites, it automatically forced them out of their huts and other improvised hideouts, which resulted in cheap capture of the women and everyone present in Ziklag, "the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way." (1 Sam.30:2).
Endless Tears:
The mood of David and his men at the sight of this ugly menace on arrival, left no one in doubt how downcast and hopeless they were. The profuse tears were not royal enough for recovery, anyway. They cried sore before they realized crying would not help the situation a bit. The challenging part was how David and his men would trace the captives, for recovery. It seemed probably impossible by all human reasonings. To even think the people thought of stoning David showed how frustrated they were. To cry in this type of situation was a normal thing, and that simply tells us that "kings also cry." King Hezekiah sought the face of God in tears when he saw the overwhelming troops of Nebuchadnezzar. He figuratively likened that day in his life to a day of " trouble and rebuke and blasphemy" (Is.37:3) .This speaks to us that there is always a day like this in the lives of all mortals, regardless of status. When this happens, what do we do? Whom do we call upon? What is our recourse? Royalty and christianity do not exempt us from vicissitudes of life. We all, possibly, at one time or the other had been in a similar situation, yet God made a way out. [ Would anyone share with us and how God saved the situation for him / her ]. It was David's turn to experience one of those days.
The Inquiry:
David and his men came to their senses having realized tears would take them no where in this situation. They needed a solution. In the process of time, David did not act on his impulse. He knew the way to go about this. That was to seek the face of God in the direction to go. Certain things worked in his favor here. First, the residents of Ziklag were captured, not murdered. With that, there was hope of recovery of the captives. Second, David was in right tune with God, meaning the channel of communication between him and God was pure and untainted, which made it possible for him to speak to, and receive directions from God; compared with Saul, who in his later days lost this privilege, and lost out completely, "and when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim or by the prophets" (1 Sam.28:6). The same God that called and used Eli, turned against him, when Eli chose his own path. The rest is history.
Friends, a lesson here for us is that God should be our only recourse even in the most hopeless situation that defies human solution. God should not be put in the back burner even when the going is good for us, and each time He warns us of any infractions, we should take heed to steer clear and never regress to it, "...but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him"? (1 Sam.2:25b). We always will need God in all situations. Hence, the channels must be kept pure, untainted, and revered. Our emotions, impulse and human wisdom should be relegated to the background, as well. If we allow these to get the best of us, coming out of challenges might be difficult.
A Favorable Response:
Almost immediately after asking God, He responded to David, and favorably, too. David was not only assured of catching up with the invaders, he was given an assurance of total recovery. David ran with this word. He did not sit down to rationalize how he would recover. He simply held on to the assuring word from God. Believers, this is our God. His ways are not our ways. Most times when He promises us, He does not give the details of the process at once. Events will begin to unfold the moment we heed His voice, and take the initial bold step. If he told us early in the process, we may back out, owing to the challenges, in-between. And a truth we cannot deny is that life is full of challenges even with God on our side. And as a matter of fact, He would have prepared solutions for the chains of recurring obstacles along the way. None of us has ever had it smooth all along, no matter our exalted positions now.
David And His 600 Men:
As far as David was concerned, his troop of 600 men was going to do the trick.God overthrew this synergy that His will might prevail. This tells us how God works that He might take all the glory. David did not know the link to his recovery on this mission was going to be a purely unknown, negligible, inconsequential, and unrelated being. His hope hinged on his troop, though with the mindset and trust in the word of God. And God did not stop him either, on his choice of strong men. Knowing how He was going to do it, He already went ahead of this search party to plant a half-dead Egyptian on their way. In the meantime, the strength of 200 out of the 600 troop had failed them and had fallen by the way side, even before they got to their destination. "For by strength shall no man prevail" (1 Sam. 2:9b), Hannah said. David was on the verge of defeat, had he relied on his failing troop against a more fortified team. The reduction in David's troop was a sign from God that this was a mission you cannot accomplish with your human reasoning and resources, boy! Readers, how many times have we embarked on dicey missions, God -sent missions at that, and we, along the line, introduced our own logical permutation that seemed more feasible to us than He that sent us?
The Link To The Recovery:
With one-third of David's strength down, he pressed on, on the trip, with the remainder, in faith. This speaks to us that each time our strength fails us on a God-assigned task, it means God is telling us our focus should be more on Him. This God, whose "understanding is unsearchable" (Is.40:28), has His unique ways of working things out even in the most hopeless situation. From the same assailants' camp, God pre-arranged an Egyptian, a servant of one of the heads of the invading team, maimed him, and made him helpless. Not only that, he was planted along the way David and his men were to pass. What David equipped 600 men to recoup, he recovered by a 'divine' link, by reason of a helpless man, who God demobilized. Patience was the first virtue of David and his team here, when they ran into the man. They were not brash to retaliate in anger. "Vengeance is Mine", (Rom.12:19) says the LORD. David did not seek vengeance.
Next, David and his team were generous to feed the young man with "a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins (1 Sam.30:12)." For a man who had not eaten nor drunk for three days, his strength was restored, at least to David's advantage. He needed the strength to be active so he can be the much needed "link" between David and his displaced people. The death of this man in the hands of David would do David no good. In addition, David did not pressure him to lead him to the link. He used persuasion, "can you take me down to this troop?" (1 Sam. 30:15). Here also, David stooped to conquer.
By and large, David eventually got to the Amalekite-invaders who had just returned from another raid on Judah and Philistine. David's arrival in their camp was timely. The ensuing attack he unleashed on these assailants was massive, lasting from twilight until the evening of the following day. David and his team gained upper hand to the extent that he recovered all . Where there is recovery, next level is sure, certain and guaranteed. The word that the LORD gave David eventually came to pass at the end of the day, "so David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives." 1 Sam. 30:18).
"Link" To Recovery As It Relates To Us:
At one time or the other, we all had needed at least a "link", emphatically a legitimate, and God-sent link, either to our past loss(es), or for our next level, or both. And a major truth about this type of link is that it always sets up connections for further links. Regardless of the hopeless situation we might think we are in, there is a always a ray of hope for us to get the divine link to recovering our loss(es) or get to our next level. Everyone, no matter how highly placed, does need this divine link. Hence, the need to hold on to the "Source" of the link, seek His face at all times, as David did in this narrative. We should not allow tears, fears, overwhelming emotions, and human logic shift our focus from God who is readily available to point our attention to the link. Our divine links could be one or a mix of the followings:
Around us without our knowing, or someone relatively unknown to us . For Namaan to receive his healing from leprosy, it took the slave girl under his roof to link him with the prophet in Samaria-Elisha. "...and his flesh was restored like the flesh of little child, and he was clean." (2 Kgs.5:14b). I can relate here. Few years ago, precisely January 2017, I recovered a package of three set of credentials stolen from me, after about fourteen years through a divine link. The document floated in transit for those 14 years between Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, where it was stolen and Our Savior's Anglican Church Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, where it was found. A church where I was named on September, 20th, 1967! As at the time of "recovery" it was INTACT in the same brown envelope that housed it! So unbelievable, and interesting that too, the link to get across to inform me was via Social Media, across two different continents entirely, at that time of the recovery! Talk of the positive power of the Social Media... and you are right. A person that we never knew each other also was the human link. (Oh, my life is full of exponential testimonies. No doubt about this. (And the circumstances surrounding memorable event is a big story coming up in a major publication in the year, if the LORD tarries). The link to my recovering the documents came to be, even as I travel intercontinental, "when they went from one nation to another,..He permitted no one to do them wrong..." (Ps.105: 13 ). Link to our recovery and next level, may cut across continents, in some cases.
Living under our roof as servants, contemporaries at work, professional colleagues: For Saul to get to Samuel, his link to the throne, it took his servant not only to lead him to the prophet, "...there is in this city a man of God ...all that he says surely comes to pass" (1 Sam.9:6), but also offered a token to the "Prince" who could not afford a cent on this memorable day, for the man of God- a day that he was unknowingly walking into his destiny, "look, i have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver..." (1 Sam.9:9). Reason it is expedient for us all, including pastors, and leaders in various capacities, offices, and organizations, to be all embracing, non-selective, and non-discriminatory to whoever walks into our gatherings, space, and fellowships. [The caveat to this however is that if their presence is life-threatening, we may dissociate]. It was in one of those non-selective, non-discriminatory meetings that God connected me to a link that facilitated the process of applying for forgiveness of a humongous student loan of over $71,000, in 2025, the year of our LORD! And it was written off, just like that, within months having started the process by the end of the first quarter of 2024! A loan that had lingered for over 13 years! [Details coming in a major publication later in the year, if the LORD tarries].
Sidebar:
If a group of assailants could capture their victims alive, that is an indication they really were in control of the warfare.
To cry in this type of situation was a normal thing, and that simply tells us that "kings also cry."
It does not add up to abandon God and be looking for helps, links, and assistance elsewhere, at exorbitant costs that go down the drain, coupled with wasted years, and ultimately put lives in jeopardy.
Friends, a lesson here for us is that God should be our only recourse even in the most hopeless situation, from the human perspective.
It is expedient for us all, including pastors, and leaders in various capacities, offices, and organizations, to be all embracing, non-selective, and non-discriminatory to whoever walks into our gatherings, space, and fellowships; EXCEPT IT IS LIFE-THREATENING.
Conclusion:
Relationship matters. And if that is true, to us believers especially, then our first and major relationship should be with God. This is of utmost importance. Once that is settled, He will be the anchor that will link us with other essential links for our past losses, and our next level. He is the reliable Bridge between both. It does not add up to abandon God and be looking for helps, links, and assistance elsewhere, at exorbitant costs that go down the drain, coupled with wasted years, and ultimately put lives at risks, (as it were, in some cases), "woe to those who go down to Egypt for help" (Is.31:1).
The man after God's heart, David, even in his state of imperfections, sought the face of God in one of the most trying times in his life, as seen in our text above. Even though, he along the line, deployed his human reasoning, God did not restrain him, but ultimately deflated and defeated his choice. Is there any way we are "padding" the directives of God in any area of our lives? This is a good context for us to turn a new leaf. May God help us! Amen.
Prayer Of Salvation:
Peradventure you want to accept the LORD as your Savior, please, pray thus: LORD JESUS, I repent, confess, and forsake all my sins and surrender my life to You. From this day, i accept You as my LORD and Savior. Wash me clean and accept me as Your child. Amen.
PRAYERS:
LORD, I look up to You yet, please send all divine links I need to recover my losses and to attain my next level, to me.
LORD, help me in a timely fashion that I will not pad Your divine directives and mandate for my life.
LORD, help me to maintain a stainless and an untainted relationship with You. Open my eyes to the links You are sending my way. Amen!
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