1 Samuel 30:1-8

The smell of smoke is unmistakable. It is a lingering evidence that something that once stood tall has been reduced to rubbish.

For David and his six hundred men, the smoke rising from Ziklag was a scent of total devastation. They had returned from the front lines expecting to embrace their wives and hear the laughter of their children; instead, they found their city burned with fire and their wives and children taken captive. The Scripture says they: “lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”

We all eventually return to a Ziklag—that moment where everything is turned upside down. These Ziklag’s will be a time most often of discouragement, despair, and defeat. These moments can produce a sense of emptiness, frailty, and helplessness.

Ziklag has a tendency of producing “stones.” The stones will be used to burden us down or to be hurled in retaliation. I’m thinking of the stone of disappointment, the stone of frustration, the stone of anger, the stone of bitterness, the stone of fault-finding, the stone of blaming self, and so many others. In moments like Ziklag, there are no shortage of stones!

I.) Stones of Retaliation
In verse 6, the soul of the people was grieved and they speak of stoning David. When we are in pain, our first instinct is often to find a target. We pick up stones to hurl at:
•Others - Blaming leadership, family, or friends
•Ourselves - Crushing ourselves with guilt, “if only” “I should have”
•God - Resentment against the Lord
The danger is these stones can never rebuild Ziklag and they sure wouldn’t bring their wives and children back. These stones don’t rebuild, they only produce more rubbish.

II.) Stones of Remembrance
While the crowd was looking for a stone to throw, David looked for a Stone to Stand on. I love the phrase: “but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” In the OT, whenever the Lord did something of significance, people often set up an “Ebenezer” which means a “Stone of help.” David likely reached back into his walk with the Lord to pick up these metaphorical stones:
•The Lion and the Bear - “If the Lord was with me in the field, He will be with me in the ashes!”
•Goliath - “If He brought down the giant, He can bring back my family!”
•The Cave - “If He protected me from Saul, He can protect me from these stones!”

In closing, let me challenge you with the ending of the text. David Examined - As David went before the Lord, I’m sure he examined his heart. Ziklag should be a time of examination. David Encouraged - David began to encourage himself in the Lord his God! David Entreated - He requested guidance of the Lord for the next step. David Experienced Victory - David left the prayer place with a promise that they would recover all!