Pursuit (1 Samuel 30:9-20)

His heart pounds like a tribal drum calling the warrior to battle.
His skin beads sweat with the loyalty of a husband and the passion of a lover.
His hand instinctively palms the familiar, smooth handle of a sword that will speak on his behalf.
David is a man in pursuit of his stolen treasures - his wife and family and nation.

I recently found myself asking, "Lord, what does it look like for a man to treasure something? What does it look like for You to treasure me?" His Word says:

Since you are precious in My sight,

Since you are honored and I love you,

I will give other men in your place

and other peoples in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 43:4, NAS

The LORD your God is in your midst,

A victorious warrior.

He will exult over you with joy.

He will be quiet in his love.

He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Zephaniah 3:17, NAS

In a covenant relationship with Israel, the Lord promises (through Isaiah and Zephaniah) to discipline the disobedient nation. Yet, in His discipline, he will once again choose to pursue and redeem. Judgement will come, but His love will be expressed even more strongly once wrath has passed. Like a victorious warrior, He will honor and treasure his precious covenant Love whom He has rescued from the hands of enemies.

I can't help but think that David, too, has this knowledge of God pulsing through his veins as He pursues the Amalekites who have His treasures. A husband is in covenant relationship to the Lord and to his wife, he seeks to rescue what has been lost to the enemy through his sin. His pursuit is an expression of renewed spiritual responsibility and deep love. Through prayer, he receives the permission of God to pursue and the promise of every life being returned.


© 2007 by Kendra Hinkle

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible (R), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.