“BRING ME THE EPHOD!”

 1 Samuel 30:6-7                                  (ESV)

“6 And David was GREATLY DISTRESSED, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "BRING ME THE EPHOD." So Abiathar BROUGHT THE EPHOD to David.

8 And David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" HE answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue." 

“Eliphaz, son of Esau (the patriarch Jacob’s brother and sworn enemy), and his concubine Timna had a child named Amalek.  Amalek grew up in Esau’s household, imbibing (soak up) Esau’s pathological hatred of Jacob’s descendants along the way. His offspring became the nation of Amalek, and they lived to the south of the Land of Israel, in what is now known as the Negev Desert.”  So Amalek was the grandson of Esau, the brother of Jacob, who bought Esau’s birthright from him when he was hungry.  Esau hated Jacob (later known as Israel) so much that his hatred was passed on to his ancestry.  The Amalekites had hate instilled in them, and regrettably allowed that hate to ultimately kill them.  

David, already anointed as the King of Israel by Samuel, was off trying to join the Philistines in a war.  But even though David was a man after GODS OWN heart, GOD evidently had other Plans than for Israel to join with the Philistines at that time.  Whilst David was busy with his plans, the aforementioned Amalekites were burning the camp of the Israelites and kidnapping their women and children.  They carried them off with them so that the only things left upon David’s return was the ashes of the fire from the Amalekites.  

Upon learning that ALL of the women and children were taken, David was GREATLY DISTRESSED and was trying to answer the complaints of his army.  David could have reacted with fear and uncertainty, “But DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD”!  GOD led him to call to Abiathar the priest, “BRING ME THE EPHOD."  Now traditionally THE EPHOD was only worn by the PRIEST, but in an act of humility David inquired of THE LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" HE answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue." David captured all that was taken from Israel, his two wives, sons and daughters, flocks and herds, EVERYTHING was restored.  Even the spoils of war was said to be “This is David’s spoil”!

Had David and the Israelites NOT been rejected by the Philistines, the misdeeds of the Amalekites might have been permanent!  We don’t need to fret when our plans are superseded by HIS PLANS!  When David said to “BRING ME THE EPHOD”, he did so to let GOD know that he was willing to do whatever it took for GOD to intervene in his situation.  We don’t need to think that our situation is not important enough for DIVINE INTERVENTION!  We might need to declare “BRING ME THE EPHOD” and allow ALMIGHTY GOD to do what ONLY HE CAN DO!!!