Because David put his trust in God, even in this terrible circumstance, the end of the matter was a great victory for David and his men.

David prayed and asked God's direction—always a wise thing to do.

And David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?" And He said to him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them, and you shall surely rescue all." (I Samuel 30:8 NASB)

David, as was his custom, obeyed the Lord. The result was the recovery of his losses and those of his men plus a great deal of spoil from the Amalekites.

The problem with the Christian metaphysics of today is that the believers do not inquire of the Lord. They assume they know how, when, where God should deliver and so they set out to accomplish the deliverance by "faith."

David asked God if he should pursue the Amalekites. He did not take the obvious for granted.

How many, many times in Christian work today do people take the obvious for granted, just as Joshua did with the Gibeonites. "God has given us the great commission. Are we to sit around and wait after God has told us what to do? Let's get out there and do the job."

Thus we become the blind leading the blind.

Let us cease from our dead works and get in touch with the living Christ. Then He will command us what to do. Sometimes it is to attack, which may be obvious. On other occasions it may be to march around the wall or wait until we hear a rustling in the mulberry trees, which are not as obvious.

We are not to use our imagination to guide our actions or release forces in the spirit realm. We are to use our imagination to keep Christ always before us until we continually are waiting to hear His voice and understand His will for every detail of every day, including the details of our gifts and ministry.

David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. He took all the flocks and herds [that had belonged to the Amalekites], and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder." (I Samuel 30:18-20 NIV)

What would have been an exceedingly distressing defeat turned into a marvelous victory, all because David refused to dwell on the tragedy but strengthened himself by remembering the faithfulness of the Lord.

The writer of the forty-second Psalm was having a difficult time.

How is it with you? Are you in the middle of a "hopeless" situation? Strengthen yourself in the Lord. Ask God what to do. Fear and faith cannot dwell in your heart at the same time.

My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" (Psalms 42:3 NIV)

But then the writer called to mind the times of joy in the Presence of the Lord.

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. (Psalms 42:4 NIV)

To be continued.