What Do We Do Now?
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Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire
and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way.
And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.
David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
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.
And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
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.”
Relief. Joy. Elation.
We felt victorious, triumphant, empowered.
After Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts… in the murder of George Floyd
New day… Change is possible… maybe black lives are starting to matter to some people…
Many of us remember other cases… where officer’s got away with murder…
Where our people were left dead… their families devastated… our communities left to deal with he fallout…
Where it seemed like it was open season on black people in America, and black and brown people were being killed by police at rates similar to that of the reconstruction era and of the Jim Crow south
2014 Eric Garner - loosies… New York street… I can’t breathe…
Michael Brown - hands up… Ferguson…
Tamir Rice - Cleveland OH…
2016 Filando Castille
Andre Brown
Rodney King… (video)…
So we had this sinking feeling that somehow, someway - the outcome of this trial would be the same. We hoped it would be different, but even with the video evidence showing Chauvin’s knee on George Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, we suspected that somehow they would find a way to acquit him and find him not guilty.
We weren’t the only ones who thought this way - major cities across the country were bracing for a not guilty verdict.
Businesses in major metropolitan areas were boarding up their windows, putting up fences and reinforcing security in their establishments in anticipation of the fallout which was sure to follow a not guilty verdict.
The national guard was put on alert. It seemed the whole country was waiting with bated breath.
Even the White House paused temporarily as we awaited the announcement of the verdict.
When the verdict was read - guilty on all counts, we were surprised and breathed a collective sigh of relief.
But how short-lived that celebration was, because we soon learned that even as we celebrated that victory… another black teenager had become victim of death by cop!
Maybe that’s how David and his men feel in our text today. They had experienced victory in battle. They are strong, mighty, hopeful… they feel successful and confident. The mood is happy and jovial as they are on their way home. No doubt they’re planning to celebrate with their wives and children. Dinner, drinks, tales from the battle field.
But instead of celebration, when they returned they experienced devastation. Their village had been raided, ransacked and left in ruins. Their families were no where to be found, for their enemies had attacked and taken their wives and children hostage. the Bible says no lives were lost, no one was killed - but still the sheer despair they experienced as their happiness turned into horror and their joy was replaced by sorrow.
What in one moment was one of the best days of their lives, suddenly became the worst day of their lives.
Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.
The Bible says they were so grief stricken that they wept until they were weak - until there were no more tears to cry, they cried until no strength was left in them.
Then sadness quickly turned to anger, as they shifted their focus toward David, and began to talk about stoning him!
That may well be a good description of what we felt as a people, as we celebrated the guilty verdict, and felt a sense of justice for George Floyd, for once the system was being held accountable for its actions.
Yes - we celebrated, but then the news came that while we were waiting for the verdict to come, another of our black children had been shot dead by a man in blue.
16 year old Ma’Khai Bryant, was fatally gunned down about 30 minutes before the guilty verdict was read.
She called 911 seeking assistance because she was being attacked.
Yet, when the ones called to assist her arrived, without investigation, without waiting for answers, without fully assessing the situation, an officer opened fire, shooting her four times in her chest, leaving her dead and her community devastated, all because she had a knife.
My uncle used to say - you never bring a knife to a gun fight!
And similarly a gun at a knife fight is unnecessary and out place - especially if that knife was being used by the person who called police, to defend herself from an attack…
We can find ways to defend and justify any action, we can make a thing right in our own eyes… but in the end, when all the dust has settled, wrong is wrong. And we must find better ways to deal with society’s problems.
It’s true - she had a knife… it’s true, she lunged at one of her attackers… but it’s also true that at the end of the day, another life has been lost… a young girl, a young black teenager, a young black teenager with potential… a young black teenage girl who was a product of the system, is now a victim of that system….
Another senseless, unnecessary killing by the police…
Another young black teenager is dead.
Another life is lost, another family is devastated…
Another community is grieving…
You know what else is true - had she been white, the outcome would likely have been very different. Because white people who interact with police are generally treated quite differently, even when they act crazy… wield weapons... and rage against the authority.
Since March 29 when testimony in Derek Chauvin trial began until the conclusion of the trial… more than 3 people a day were killed by police. Somewhere around 75 people were killed by police during the trial.
Between 2014 and today, 4250 people have been killed at the hands of licensed, trained, professional peace officers - those who have been tasked to serve and protect!
The majority of these deaths have been people of color. In fact, a recent study confirmed what we already knew that black people are killed by police almost 3 times as often as their white counterparts.
In one metropolitan area black people are arrested at a rate of 21 times more frequently than whites. Our communities are over policed, our people are over charged and over sentenced.
We cry for police reform… we say the criminal justice system needs to be fixed… but the reality - it’s not broken… it’s working just as it was intended… to serve and protect THEM from US… to keep US in our place… to keep US out of THEIR communities…
That’s why there is a disparity between how white criminals are treated and how black criminals are treated.
So if there is to be change - the change must begin with us. I’ve said it a hundred times, I’ll stay it a thousand times more - we can’t afford to wait for somebody else to rescue us - we must save ourselves!
We have to turn our communities around, we have to change the way we think and we act!
We may feel hopeless - but we’re not without hope. Helpless… powerless…
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Let’s go back to our text… the Bible says David’s men are sad and angry… in the midst of their grief and despair - in the time of their hopelessness - they point fingers at their leader - and they start talking about stoning him.
And the bible says David is greatly distressed…
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.
There was talk of stoning him - killing him - because in this moment his leadership didn't meet with their expectations or their approval…
How it is in the church… in our communities… we want to place blame on everyone else for problems we caused… instead of taking responsibility for our part in the mess… we want to blame leaders for what we think they should have done.
This wasn't the first time David’s life had been threatened or the first time he was in such a situation….
Saul had been hunting him for years… trying to kill him… trying to take him out… trying to assassinate him…
No weapon formed… Isaiah 54:17 when the enemy comes in… (Isaiah 59:19)
David was greatly distressed - people spake of stoning him... he’s down to his lowest place… disappointed and in despair...
But instead of feeling sorry for himself, and wallowing is self-pity… instead of deflecting the blame and saying it’s somebody else’s problem…
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.
The Bible says - he strengthens himself… (Hazaq) builds himself up… gains strength... increases in courage... becomes powerful… KJV says David encourages himself - in the Lord his God!
Could have given up - but instead he looks up… could have given up - but instead he reaches up…
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Today we have a Bible… Psalm 23:1; 27:1-2, Phil 4:19
We have church services we can attend… praise teams to encourage us…
We have preachers to declare what the Lord is saying… we have conference calls and zoom meetings, we can turn on the radio for some good gospel singing to inspire us, or call the prayer warriors to pray us through.
David didn't have any of that… he could only draw from what he knew… he knew the Lord… and he knew what the Lord had already done!
He had had experiences with God… he had tried God for himself… he knew what God was capable of… He remembered what God had done for him before… and he had enough sense to know - if God did it before - He can do it again!
Is there anybody here you've got enough sense to know that if God did it before - he can do it again!
If he healed you before… if he made a way before… if he opened a door before…
If he brought you out before… if put food on the table before…. if he put clothes on your back before…
So no matter what you face… no matter what you go through… no matter how difficult the day… no matter how trying the trouble… how sticky the situation… no matter how bad it gets - you can encourage yourself - you can strengthen yourself - when you remember that God is able…
The Bible says he strengthens himself, then he situates himself to seek the Lord! He gets in a posture of prayer…
He doesn’t pray for God to fix the problem. He doesn’t pray for God to make everything better. He doesn’t even pray for God to turn things around!
What does David pray for?
He prays for direction
He prays for guidance.
He prays for permission.
His prayer is simple - God what do you want me to do?
He prays this way because he knows…
how easy it is to make matters worse than they already are.
Doing what you want to do instead of what God wants you to do creates unnecessary problems!
He wants to experience the success and favor that comes from doing what God says to do - the way God says to do it!
Not long ago, someone on my timeline wore a t-shirt that said: “Enough Prayer - it’s time for action!” I don’t know that there’s been enough prayer, but there’s certainly been enough of the wrong kind of praying!
When tragedy happens, when our communities are afflicted by trauma… the cry always goes out - Pray for America! Pray for this community… Pray for this family… Pray for peace… comfort…
We pray for God to do something - but God says I’ve already equipped you to do what you’re asking me to do. You’re looking for what’s in God’s hand - but God’s already put power in your hands!
That’s why we must seek his face - to seek what comes from God’s mouth - to hear from him… to receive instruction from him… direction from him…
Something happens when God’s people seek God’s face…
Maybe we’ve been praying the wrong prayers, for the wrong thing!
We have to learn how to pray and pray right…
We have to pray with intention, seeking God’s direction - not just his provision and protection!
Not only must we be praying for God’s direction but we must also pray for strength and courage to take action! Because when God answers - we must be ready to act!
Praying without obeying is nothing but wishful thinking!
So while we are praying for direction and guidance… we must also pray for courage to obey, confidence to act and conviction to do what we know we must do!
But when we pray and obey - things happen!
When we pray and pray right…
God will answer!
God will direct us - show us what to do and how to do it!
And when we obey…
God will deliver us - will be with us - preserving us… keeping us… sustaining us… helping us… empowering us…
God will deploy the armies of heaven to help us…
God will demonstrate his power before us!
The Bible says he’ll hear from heaven… forgive our sin… heal our land…
The story ends like this - the Lord answers David… pursue, for you shall recover all…
David obeys the Lord… David does as God says, and the outcome is just as God promised! He recovers everything the enemy stole…
Beloved - if we truly want to preserve our communities, save our children, make things better for generations to come… we have to seek God’s face, listen for his instruction, and follow the directions he gives!ready put power in your hands!