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God was very kind to David in
keeping him from fighting against Israel; but he punished him for his
conduct at Ziklag, because he wanted David to be more humble, and more
sorry for his sin. When
David and his men came back to Ziklag, they saw the city in ruins.
The walls were thrown down, the houses were burnt, and their wives and
families were gone. How was this? The Amalekites had come,
while David was away, and conquered Ziklag, and taken all the people
prisoners. David and his men had no home now; and when they looked
round, and saw their city in ruins, and thought about their wives and
children, they all began to weep. They wept till they had no more
power to weep. They were all unhappy; but David was more unhappy
than his men. Why? Because he remembered his own sin, and
because his soldiers were angry, and spoke unkindly to him. David
was in great sorrow,—where did he go for comfort? Had he any kind
friend to help him in his sorrow? Yes; he had one friend, who was
ready to comfort him; and this was God. David had forgotten his best
friend a long time; he had trusted in Achish, and the Philistines, more
than in God, and had made friends of them. But Achish and the
Philistines could not help David now; he was along, without an earthly
friend to comfort him; and then he remembered his friend in Heaven, and
felt very sorry he had so displeased and forgotten Him. David
prayed, and asked forgiveness for his sinful deceit; and God heard his
prayer, and forgave his sin. God had not forgotten David, He was
waiting for him to repent, and He was ready to pardon. David
felt happy when God had forgiven him. But how could he get back his
family and his possessions? He asked God; and He told him to follow
after his enemies, and promised to help him. And did David conquer
the cruel Amalekites? Yes, he soon overtook them. He found
them all eating, and drinking and dancing for joy, because they had taken
away so much riches from Ziklag. But David and his men soon smote
all the Amalekites: and took away their own wives and children, and
brought them home in safety. How
kind God was to David after all David's forgetfulness of God! David
felt very thankful, and very humble when he remembered his sins; and he
learned in future to trust not in himself but in God alone.
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