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I Samuel 30:16-20, He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.  David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.  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, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

While David and his men were away with the armies of the Philistines, the Amalekites took advantage of their absence.  They plundered the town of Ziklag, stealing all the livestock and kidnapping the women and children.  Understandably, the men were beyond despair and some blamed David and even spoke about possibly stoning him.  It was really, really bad.

David inquired of the Lord who told him he would be victorious if he were to pursue the Amalekites and the women and children they kidnapped.  So they did just that.  As we read in today’s focus verses, they were successful.  They recovered everything.  Every single Hebrew woman, boy, and girl was recovered and returned to their family.  David and his men also took all the livestock, the flocks and herds, and divided it among all his men and the elders.

The Lord was with David and his men.  The ending could have been much different.  Not only did God guide David every step of the way but he protected the women and children who were kidnapped.  I love how the Scripture very specifically states, “Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else taken…”  Every life was valuable and every life was recovered. 

I’m writing this on the day that Russia invaded Ukraine.  We obviously don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m praying for the best possible outcome, but I think it’s important to point out that the life of every single man, woman, and child who lives in Ukraine (and Russia for that matter) is important to God.  Let’s pray for God’s protection and intervention and that God gives wisdom to the world leaders who are addressing this invasion. 

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We thank you for the way you care for all human life.  You teach us that every single human life has value.  We get a glimpse of it in this Old Testament Scripture but we see it every single world of the Gospels.  Every single life has value, every person is infinitely loved by you.  In Your Name, Amen.