Warriors Arise: November 22, 2020
1 Samuel 30:9-10 (NKJV) So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.
I do not like to be left behind. It is not a good feeling. There is a sense of rejection and not being good enough. It really can mess with your mind. These two hundred men who were left behind were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor. It makes me wonder if the brook was in flood season. What made it so difficult to cross? But then we have to acknowledge that these men had just returned from a three day journey from the battle lines. No, they didn't fight but because they were "with the Philistines." They would have been fed by the Philistines. David and his men had not expected to be turned away. They might not have had provision for the three day journey home. The Philistines would not have felt obligated to provide for warriors that they did not allow to fight with them. David had brought six hundred men with him. That would have been a lot of food for the Philistines to provide. since they weren't allowed to fight they would not have stuck around. Since they were traveling, food rations would have been slim and they would not have taken too much time to eat meals just probably cold salted meats and dry bread. They hadn't planned on having to feed themselves. If they would have been allowed to stay with the Philistine army they would have eaten with them. They would have hunted and prepared food until the day of battle. But that wasn't what happened.
Most likely, they hadn't eat much and some of them might not have eaten on the trip back to Ziklag. They had cried until they had no more power to weep. Have you been emotionally drained before? Have you cried until there was no more power in you to weep? You lie there feeling numb, empty, and depleted. Then their anger was aroused as they wanted to stone David. When God tells them to pursue they saddled up and left immediately. No one filled their bag with food or drink. Everything in the city was burnt. They didn't go on a hunting trip to stock up on provisions. Some of them probably hadn't eaten in a couple of days. They were exhausted before they even started to pursue the Amalekites.
They ran their horses hard. There would be no sauntering as they pursued the Amalekites. David and his men were on a mission. They were to pursue and overtake. The best place David could lead his men was at the brook so they could get hydrated. We also do not know if all of David's men had horses. Maybe the brook was in flood season therefore, only the men with horses could cross the brook or they would be swept down river. We do not know but it says they could not cross the brook. So something prevented them from crossing, whether they were too exhausted, their horses had been run to hard and couldn't go any further, or some of the men were on foot and could cross it in flood season. Either way, two hundred men did not continue the pursuit.
We never know when we are going to have a day like David and his men. A day when your world comes crashing down. Your eyes see that everything you once had is gone and there isn't hope for a better tomorrow. But then David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. He asked God and listen to His response. Immediately, David and his men followed God's plan. But some of the men couldn't go any further. They had to be left behind.
Before I had my own car I relied on my Dad to get me to places and sometimes my brother. I could either walk to school in the morning or I could be ready when Doug left for school and ride with him. Same with my Dad, when I was a player on his softball team. I could ride with my dad or I could ride my bike. My dad would come home, pull a superman change in his bedroom and be out the door before I could blink! I would think I had plenty of time to get my stuff together and be out in the truck. If I wasn't ready when he pulled out, he didn't wait. I learned to be ready before he arrived home so I didn't miss my ride! What was the difference? I prepared ahead of time so I wouldn't be left behind.
It is in our best interest for us to be practice being ready. Every school night my son sets out his backpack, car keys, water bottle on the couch. He also sets out his shoes and even separates his socks, one sock on each shoe. When he wakes up he knows he already has everything he needs to rush out the door. When he is awake and alert he gets his things together for the next day. He learned when he waits until morning he didn't handle himself well when he could find his keys, water bottle, or school items. He wanted to sleep as late as he possible and know everything was already in place.
These men had no idea what their day would be like. They were not ready. They were exhausted and could not go on any further. So they were left behind.
Do you find yourself ready each day for whatever comes your way? Or when things don't go your way you get frustrated, anxious, or upset? When we are not prepared the tendency is to quit when things get tough. Life isn't full of perfect days, life is full of days to achieve perfection because we are prepared to react doing our best, being our best, and achieving the best no matter what is thrown at us that day. A perfect day is knowing we did our best all day long.
Father, I ask for You to come and minister to those who are feeling weary and exhausted. I ask for You to raise up and speak peace over them tonight as they sleep. I pray You would come and settle their anxious heart. I pray You would consume them with thoughts of Your love. I ask for You to minister to each one in Jesus' name. I pray for You to come and touch the body of all those who have the coronavirus. I ask for you to strengthen their bodies. Your Word says, in our weakness You are strong. I pray for Your strength to run through their body and touch every part that is weak and make it strong in Jesus' name. I rebuke the coronavirus and command it to die in Jesus' name. I bless our immune systems to rise up, learn the sickness, and resist the sickness. I thank You for making our bodies strong. I ask for You to bring peace to our minds. We will not be overrun with fear but we will walk in the fullness of Your love. Your perfect love casts out all fear in Jesus' name. Those we have had to leave at the hospital I pray Your presence would be with them. I pray for those who are returning to the battle, to their home for strength to pray and declare the goodness of the Lord over their family and friends. I ask for You to empower their faith to believe and declare the healing of the Lord over each of their loved ones. I bless each one with Your love that conquers all in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
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.
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