GOD’S WORDS OF RECOVERY

“Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail RECOVER ALL” – 1 Samuel 30:8b

No condition or situation can foil GOD’S WORDS of RECOVERY: “So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail RECOVER ALL” (1Sam.30:8). The word “Recovery” connotes two meanings: a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength after a period of illness, injury, or difficulty; or the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost. Recoveries may therefore relate to physical health, state of mind, possessions, business, or finances. Concerning health, God assured Israel: “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares’” (Jer.30:17). The same is the portion of the redeemed.

1 Samuel 30 records a Story of Recovery from Tragedy to Triumph. While David and his men were on a military expedition, the Amalekites plundered Ziklag, took all the cattle and possessions, kidnapped all the women and children, and burned the city to the ground. On returning, David and his men were horrified to see the devastation and their families’ captivity. The six hundred fighting men were extremely distressed and wept until they had no sobs left. Then, as they reasoned about how this happened, they heaped the blame on David who had brought them to live in the remote city of Ziklag, and also led them off to fight with the Philistines, leaving their families vulnerable to such an attack (1 Sam. 27:5-6). Some were so angry, they talked of stoning David, “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (v.6).

Upon inquiring from the Lord for specific guidance, God assured David he will not only overtake this band, but he will also completely rescue and recover all that had been taken. God first gave David something to do: Pursue. Then, God gave him a Promise: “you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” When God gives us something to do, He also gives a promise in the doing. David and four hundred of his men went on a hot pursuit, and through caring for a helpless Egyptian, they were guided to the bandits’ base camp, where they utterly defeated them, and recovered all that was taken: “So David RECOVERED ALL that the Amalekites had carried away…” (v.18-19).

In 2 Kings 6:1-7, the prophet Elisha and a group of young prophets were getting ready to build an addition to their school, when one of the men encountered a setback: “…When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed” (2Kgs.6: 4-5). The fact that the axe head was borrowed made it an especially painful loss. Meanwhile, the Jordan was a muddy and dangerous river and, in the natural, there was very little chance of the implement being recovered. Moreover, it was made of iron which was rare and valuable in those days; not something he could easily get a replacement for.

Rather than despair, Elisha applied God’s solution: “So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it” (2 Kings 6:6-7). Elisha used an ordinary stick in the natural, but spiritually, it represented the cross. When the cross was applied to the problem, the iron axe head miraculously floated to the surface! Whatever it is we’ve lost would be recovered, when the cross is applied! The God of Full Recovery wants us to receive all that Jesus paid the price for, and recover everything that we’ve lost, in terms of health, finances, relationships, power, grace or favour. Ours is a faithful God who specializes in recovery of the lost!