“For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.”  I Samuel 30:24

David and his band of followers had been given refuge by King Achish, and were willing to go to battle with him, but the rest of the princes refused to have him.

When David and his men returned to the town where their families were, they found that it had been invaded, burned with fire, and all their women had been taken captive.  David was distressed because the rest of the people were so grieved, they spoke of stoning him.  But the Scripture tells us that David encouraged himself in the Lord, and after seeking the Lord, he and four hundred of his men pursued after the enemy.  They were successful in recovering their families and everything that had been taken. When they returned to the ones that had been left behind, David was ready to share the spoil with them, but the ones who had gone to battle resisted.  That is when David spoke these words in I Samuel 30:24.

Have you ever felt the enemy whisper to you that you are not important because you have not gone to the mission field, or accomplished anything great for the Lord?  This is not true.  Each one of us has a ministry to fulfill, and at different times in our lives, it may be only to “tarry by the stuff.”  How much would the missionaries, preachers, and evangelists be able to accomplish if there was not someone supporting them with prayer and finances?

John Milton says it well in his poem, “On His Blindness.”  He reflects that he has a place in God’s world despite his disability.

“God doth not need

Either man’s work or his own gifts: who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed

And post o’er land and ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait.”

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you have called us all to be your servants.  We cannot all go and preach, but we can pray for those who do, and thus we share in the results of the harvest.

Devotion by Anne Johnston

 

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2 Comments

  1. Wow, your word some to me today😢, thank the Lord for today. I share your word daily to 16 people daily.

    • Anne Johnston

      Thank you so much. I am glad it was a blessing to you. Anne