Evidence of Those Standing on God’s Side

My beloved friends and family. May the grace and love of God be with you always.

Our lives are a mixture of joy and sorrow, positivity and negativity. At times, we rejoice when things go better than expected, and at other times, we grieve over disappointing results. Yet, in all such situations, a person of God neither succumbs to arrogance nor falls into despair. 

Because they believe God is present in their successes, they do not become arrogant; because they trust that God remains with them, they do not despair when faced with obstacles. A life of faith means looking fully toward the God who permits these situations, rather than focusing on the outward circumstances themselves. 

When David was in a state of despair—fleeing from Saul and hiding in Ziklag, a Palestine territory—men appeared to help him. Interestingly, these men were warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, the very tribe to which Saul belonged. God moved the hearts of these Benjaminite warriors through the Holy Spirit, prompting them to aid David even as he was being pursued by Saul. 

What, then, led them to turn their backs on the reigning power and align themselves with David, who was a fugitive in a foreign land? Their words to David reveal the reason: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” (1 Chronicles 12:18). These warriors came to David because they saw that God was helping him. 

God is the One who opens the spiritual eyes of even those standing on the opposing side, enabling them to recognize the Lord’s chosen one and move to assist him. What matters is that our lives bear evidence of God’s presence and His help at critical moments. “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9). What we must note here is that the true light shines upon each person. 

The Lord acknowledges the uniqueness of our individual circumstances and situations. He deeply understands our respective worries, fears, anxieties, and frustrations. Because He knows our specific plight, despair, loneliness, and tears, He does not treat us all uniformly but approaches each of us in the most fitting, individual way. Thus, He takes an interest in each person and shines the light that is right for them. 

For David, the moment Saul’s warriors joined his ranks was akin to the light God had personally shone upon him. He had relied on God’s sovereignty and authority above all else in the world and had lived with God’s Word at the center of his life. In this way, God sent Saul’s warriors to David—who had faithfully relied solely on the Lord—to confirm that His choice had been the right one. 

The Reformer Martin Luther once said, “Happiness is a matter of being; it is a relationship with God.” God works and dwells with those who maintain a right relationship with Him, bringing His Plans and Word to fulfillment in their lives.

God bless you.

Your pastor, Oon Don