Open Heaven Daily Devotional 22 February 2022
TOPIC: Benefits Of A Lockdown (I)
MEMORISE:
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Psalm 27:5
READ: 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (KJV)
22 David, therefore, departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And everyone that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
One lesson or benefit of a lockdown is the opportunity to develop one’s hidden potential. The hustle and bustle of day-to-day human activities often rob us of the opportunity for meditation and spiritual growth. Had it not been for the lockdown David suffered when he was running away from his sworn enemy King Saul, he would not have been able to develop his leadership potential and produce great warriors from the downtrodden, distressed and discontented young men of Israel that formed his first army.
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. – (1 Samuel 22:2).
The result of David’s lockdown in the cave of Adullam is evident in the account of those people regarded as vagabonds, who became mighty men of valour in his army, as written in (2 Samuel 23). One of them – the son of Dodo, was described thus: “And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite…He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil” – (2 Samuel 23:9-10).
A time of lockdown, whichever form it takes, should be spent in such a way as to bring the best out of us. David was not sitting to brood over his troubles when being pursued by King Saul. He used the period of his lockdown to develop his military acumen and raise an army of men who would eventually become his generals. Little wonder he had a standing army in contrast to the ad-hoc army of his predecessor.
Beloved, during your period of low estate, find out what God would want you to do, and it will surprise you that you will come out stronger to do exploits. In whatever Situation you may find yourself, ask the Almighty God to open your eyes to lessons to be learnt and opportunities to be seized, just as Joseph did, rising from being a prisoner to become the Prime Minister (Genesis 40-41).
ACTION POINT:
Learn obedience in any time of distress.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 32-33
HYMNAL:
Hymn 28 – When we walk with the Lord
1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
