Ziklag

The Battle for Middle Ground

Have you ever felt like being stuck in the middle? No end in sight? Welcome to Ziklag, the battle for middle ground.

In the Old Testament David was on the run from King Saul who was tracking him down to kill him. Israelite King Saul became insane with jealousy that the people favored David over him. David with his band of 600 warriors fled to Philistine country to take refuge. David tricked Philistine King Achish into assigning him to the Philistine town of Ziklag in exchange for David to fight against his own people. David played a double game of raiding Israel’s nomadic enemies thus retaining his Israelite loyalty and convincing King Achish into believing he was raiding the Israelites.

While David was away on a raid, enemy raiders came and destroyed the town of Ziklag, and took captive all their women and children, herds of cattle and valuables belonging to David and his army of warriors. David and his army upon returning from their raid were in shock over their discovery of the devastation of their camp and it was almost too much to bear. David’s own warriors were so distraught and bitter in spirit they threatened to stone David.

David inquired of the Lord if he should pursue the raiding party and if he could overtake them. The Lord answered, “Pursue them. You will surely overtake them and succeed in rescue.” 1 Samuel 30:8. NIV

David and his 600 warriors were exhausted but took out after the Amalekites, the enemy raiders, At the Besor Ravine, two hundred of David’s warriors had to stay behind due to being too exhausted. As David and the remaining warriors pressed on they found an Egyptian slave who escaped his Amalekite master. In exchange for food, water and his life became an informer who led David to the Amalekite enemy camp. David found the Amalekite raiders in revelry eating and drinking over their spoils. David routed the Amalekites and fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day and was successful in recovering everything the Amalekites had taken away.

David was generous to the two hundred warriors that stayed behind to watch over their supplies and gave them a share of the plunder and their wives and children because the Lord had given them victory and He has protected them by handing over to them the forces that came against them. 1 Samuel 30:23-25 NIV

David also gifted some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying “Here is a present from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies. 1 Samuel 30:26. NIV

Are you in your own land of Ziklag? Is everything just a struggle to go through with seemingly no end in sight? Ziklag represents a season of intense testing, loss and a feeling of isolation.

Ziklag is a season of testing being pressed both physically and spiritually. It is a place where at first you rely on your strength and cunning instead of seeking God to guide your way through your situation.

David fled to Philistine without inquiring of the Lord. He had to struggle in his own strength, to double play the king of Philistine. As a result, David had to invent lies to appease the Philistine King, compromising his integrity. People lost their lives, and his own camp was burned to the ground and his precious family and possessions were taken away.

When your steps are misguided the Lord has a way of breaking you down to be in total dependence on Him. As you finally turn to the Lord, and trust in Him He will see you through your trial.

As you seek the Lord, encourage yourself in Him knowing that He is doing a good work in building character and maturing you into a deeper spiritual person. As you die to your old self, God will elevate you as you change from glory to glory.

Recognize there will be pain involved because a season in Ziklag is never easy.

Seek God’s direction by yielding to Him and rejoice in the process. Praise Him and read His word for guidance.

God will bring restoration and peace as a resolution is revealed.

Be generous with others and share in your testimony to bring light and encouragement to others as they go through their own Ziklag experience.

Find your refuge and comfort directly in the presence of the Lord.

”But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

1 Samuel 30:6