“And David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?’ ‘Pursue them,’ he answered. ‘You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.’” — 1 Samuel 30:8
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Marathon runners encounter many foes during their 26.2-mile trek. The sight of steep hills can emotionally drain a runner. The buildup of lactic acid can exhaust large muscle groups in their legs. Some runners can get so overwhelmed with emotional and physical fatigue that they stop running during the race.
In the Bible, David and his 600 men marched from Gath to Ziklag in three days (about 80 miles) to find total defeat and humiliation. The Amalekites raided Ziklag and burned it to the ground. They kidnapped all the women and children. The men wore themselves out weeping, and David was greatly distressed.
When David was too weak to cry anymore, the Lord encouraged him. He instructed David to pursue, overtake and recover that which was lost. “And David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?’ ‘Pursue them,’ he answered. ‘You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue’” (1 Samuel 30:8).
About 13 miles into the chase, 200 of David’s men were too tired to go on. However, David and 400 others kept the chase. Strengthened by the promise of the Lord, they went on to complete recovery and victory.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your promises during our battles. Thank You for Your strength to complete the chase.
— Michael Kenney
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