Ziklag
I SAMUEL 27:1
“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. “
When the pressure of trial is upon us, the thought of relief is sweet, and we are in danger of seeking relief in our own way. The enemy always has a by-road open to the person of faith, a seeming pleasant refuge from his trial, which offers a false peace that comes from merely making a decision about a thing, though what he has decided to do may be the first step out of God’s will.
Abraham’s side road was Egypt, a journey into Egypt to get relief from the famine in the land. David’s was Ziklag, which was a journey into enemy territory. Both Egypt, which symbolically is the world system, and Ziklag are side roads which lead away from God, and the reason for those decisions to go those places, comes from unbelief in the heart. David said “in his heart,” “I shall now perish one day at the hand of Saul.” (I Kings 27:1). How could that ever happen to the man God had lifted from the sheepcote, tending his father’s sheep and put into His service? And was bringing about the promise to make David king? Waiting on the Lord through the trials of life, at times, is difficult because unbelief seeks to enter.’’
The enemy has the world and all of its allurements, in many varied forms, to tempt us. We must judge our hearts to keep out unbelief, lest we say in our own heart a faithless statement, which comes from the accuser of God to us. We must not give Satan a hearing; just a thought, a doubtful thought is enough for Satan to get a foothold. Fear is sometimes the root of unbelief; “The fear of man brings a snare.” Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” God will ever show Himself faithful to us, we must give Him control of our situation, and let Him direct us, we will never be sorry when we do.
In His Marvelous grace,
Pastor Ed Bowen
