They Said What?!?

Warriors Arise: December 13, 2020

1 Samuel 30:21-22 (NKJV) 21 Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man's wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.”

Be honest, how would you respond? You fought for your life, the odds were totally against you. These men did not put their lives on the line. They were here at the brook resting. They maybe wouldn't have their wives, children and possession but they would have their lives.

David knows what kind of men he has with him. It is why he as captain began to train them. Not only did he train them to fight but he trained them in the ways of the Lord. Just like in church, there are people at different stages in their relationship with God. At one time, a pastor might have thought of me as a wicked and worthless person, especially if my mouth poured out the vile like these men.

What makes these men, who fought against he Amalekites, wicked and worthless is the fact that they don't want to have anything to do with the men who remained at the brook. Keep in mind they are courageous. They are skilled. They follow David but were probably also the ones who wanted to stone David. David isn't ready to kick someone out of the family just because they couldn't go on. Remember, it wasn't just one man or ten men it was 200 men who didn't have the strength to go on. That is a lot and David has cared for them like he did sheep. If a sheep can't go any further the shepherd carries it. If the sheep wanders off the shepherd goes to find it. The shepherd does not send the sheep away but continually trains, cares for and nurtures the sheep.

Luke 15:4-7 (NKJV) “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Maybe that passage is a stretch for you. The men left at the brook could not have gone any further. Their strength was gone. Even though David left them, he intended to go back for them. It would be like when David would see a bear print he would take his sheep somewhere else to graze then circle back to find the bear.

When there was a large 6 foot snake in our garage I didn't tell the kids to come help me. I sent them to the other side of the yard then got the hoe and lopped the head off of the snake. I had no intention of having them involved. They were too young. David says these 200 men didn't have the strength to go on. What would have happened if he had made them go with them into battle?

David would be responsible for their deaths, because he knew they didn't have the strength. David was protecting his men and making sure that they didn't cause others to die. While if battle, if he had to continually watch his line of men, looking for those who didn't have the strength, he could have lost his life and the lives of others. It is never good to take into battle those whose strength is zapped.

Even in the spiritual battles we face, you and I need to make sure we are strengthened by the Lord before engaging the enemy. When we are tired our mind is not focused, it can easily be distracted or deceived. When we are tired we are not paying attention; therefore, we do not see the enemy setting up the disaster about to take place. When we are tired we do not react to the enemy quick enough to deflect the lie. This is why it is important for us to know how to rest in such a way as to be fully restored to strength; because we are to be ready at all times. When we do not know how to rest to be fully restored we struggle to see the attacks of the enemy or we engage in battle without seeking God.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NKJV) 1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

You are responsible for you. When you stand before God, it is not your chance to point out the wrongs in everyone else that is in your life. I'm not sure God will even allow you to speak. But if He does, it is probably because you are overcome with the desire to repent for all the things you did wrong or the times you chose not to follow Him. You and I are to be ready in season and out. Whether we have a Sunday school lesson to teach or a disciple in the class. We are to be ready to learn, ready to receive the Word of God, and ready to give a Word from God as soon as He speaks it to you.

Father, there are times I haven't been ready. I was weak in my faith, I didn't embrace Your Scriptures, or I didn't seek You. I ask for You to forgive me. There were times when I didn't keep my strength up. I let myself get out of shape spiritually. I wasn't ready when You needed warriors to pray, warriors to serve, warriors to fight for those who couldn't. I was one who couldn't. I ask for You to forgive me. I pray for courage to seek You, to strengthen myself in Your Word, and listen to Your voice. I ask for You to speak to me clearly. I pray for those I have judged, who didn't keep up when we were heading into battle. I pray for each one to strengthen themselves in You. I ask for You to speak to them and call them to Yourself. I pray they would receive Your joy and be strengthened in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.