5th June 2026

5th June 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 Samuel 30 focus v9-31)


Message (Alan Burke)


We’ve a lot to cover to get to the end of the chapter, so it ain't going to happen in one devotion, so hopefully you’ll forgive me. I’ll start though with providence. What are God’s works of providence? A. God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions (WSC Q11, proof texts; Ps. 145:17; Ps. 104:24; Isa. 28:29; Heb. 1:3; Ps. 103:19; Matt. 10:29-31). David perused those who attacked Ziklag; he trusted in the word of the LORD and his providence. After seven days of pursuit and nothing, following tracks in the wilderness of the people and the animals, beginning to fade with the time that had passed. Hope seemed to be failing, but then in the LORD’s providence, what may look to man as nothing more than a coincidence, but was a Godincidence, it was God’s providence; they found an Egyptian. 


This Egyptian would have been a slave of the Amalekites, left to die by them. Their lack of compassion towards him would see them put the final nail in their own coffin. He had not even been left with any provisions, having not eaten or drank for three days. He was revived with food and water, and David spoke to him. If only the Amalekites had taken this man with them, then David would be left to pursue, not knowing if and when he would find the attackers of Ziklag. In effect, the Amalekites had signed their own death certificate and didn’t know it. David, by the LORD’s providence, is led to the Amalekites. When he comes upon them, they are revealing, they are eating, drinking, dancing, and scattered over the countryside, and so David goes and with his men from dusk to the evening of the next day, wiping out the Amalekites, all but the 400 who escape on camels. They had been caught off guard, and the LORD was at work in all of this. What took place here was the righteous judgement of the LORD God. 


You might wonder about the righteous judgement of God, but his was his righteous judgement. Back in the book of Exodus, the people of God were vulnerable and attacked unprovoked by the Amalekites (Ex 17:8-16). As a result, the LORD promised that he would completely blot out their memory (Ex 17:4, Deut 25:17-19). We might think to ourselves that God’s response is more than a bit extreme, a bit of an overreaction, surely? We might even be tempted to think that this is the God of the Old Testament and be thankful for how the God of the New Testament is all about love and grace. But throughout the scriptures, the Lord is consistent. We must not forget that in the end, all those who are the enemies of the Lord will face his wrath for all eternity. Jesus spoke more on the eternal punishment, of hell that awaits all those who are not the children of God through faith, and while the Amalekites were blotted out. 


As we finish, I want to take you to the book of Revelation. For it is made clear that Jesus Christ is coming again, and when he comes, he will judge the living and the dead. He will come, and Revelation 19 tells us how the armies of heaven will follow him, to strike down the nations. They will experience the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. In that vivid and terrifying picture, while the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army, the LORD Jesus had the victory (See Re 19:11–21). How do we escape the wrath of God to come? How do we know the grace that he freely offers? It is by trusting in the coming king, bowing the knee now because there will come a day when it is too late, and we will be counted among the enemies of God. We will be answerable to King Jesus, who will be our judge. Revelation 20:15 tells us what awaits for all who are the enemies of God. For anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). We, as the church, declare the hope that there is for all who believe and warn those who don’t of what awaits. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q86 What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.
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