Today’s reading brings us to the end of an era. The LORD’s anointed, King Saul, is dead. He and three of his sons, including Jonathan, David’s friend, die in battle. For as much as Saul warred and killed the Philistines, the sworn enemies of Israel, the Philistines got him in the end.
Meanwhile, when David is away from Ziklag, where he and his men have settled as fugitives from Saul, the Amalekites attack the city. They take the wives and children of David and his men captive and burn the city to the ground! When David and his men return home, there is nothing left! The Amalekites are gone! While David and his men pursue the Amalekites and recover what they lost, there is no Ziklag to return to.
Wow, this is almost surreal. Two major events happen at the same time, turning David’s life upside down! The man who seeks David’s life is dead, and David’s place of exile is gone. What does this mean for David? How does David process this? He writes Psalm 18! As David records for eternity, in poetic form, these events, notice how he concludes the end of this era in his life.
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation— the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence. For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever. (Psalm 18:46–50, ESV)
Now, does David waltz into Israel’s throne room and take the scepter in his hands? No, there is still a process before David and a plan that God is working out. But the tide has changed! The end of an era has come! The dawning of a new day is before him! What seemed to drag on forever has ended! What seemed so impossible now seems possible! And why? Because God is in control, and He has been the whole time!
Have you ever felt stuck in some doom loop? Has it ever seemed like you’ve been exiled to a situation where you know what God has called you to, but it seems impossible to get from “here” to there? David knows he is Israel’s next king, but how does he get from Ziklag to the throne? David knows he must not touch the LORD’s anointed, but how does Saul get out of the way? Yes, these thoughts and our present reality might be discouraging. We might feel helpless in our Ziklag. But God will bring this era to an end! God brings all eras to their end for His purposes!
Look up, and praise the Lord! This, too, shall pass! God has not forgotten any one of us! God is working out all things for good for them that love Him! In time, Ziklag will be in the distant past! Did not Jacob’s era of sorrow for his lost son Joseph come to an end? Did Joseph’s era of time in prison not come to an end? Did not Israel’s era of slavery in Egypt come to an end? Did not Israel’s era of wandering in the wilderness end? We could go on with more examples and, in time, include our own in this list!
Do you feel stuck in the wrong era? Don’t lose hope! God will bring this era to an end.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 1 Samuel 28-31, Psalms 18.