The Ziklag Moment

Achish, king of the Philistines, gave King David the city of Ziklag as a place to stay when he was fleeing from Saul (1 Sam 27:6). He stayed there 16 months and during that time David proved a valuable bodyguard to the king. However, the other Philistine rulers remembered the song, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands” and did not trust him. During one of the battles, King Achish was scolded by his rulers, “In battle, David may turn on us!”. Though he found no fault in him,  he had to send David back to Ziklag.
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When David and his men arrived back, they discovered that all their wives, children, families and goods had been taken by Amalekite raiders! David’s men went into mourning and then turned on him, blaming the situation on him, even threatening to kill him! But the Bible says that David inquired of the Lord and the Lord said, “Pursue them, you will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” So David and 400 men pursued and found an Egyptian abandoned by the Amalekites who took them right to the Amalekite camp where they recovered everything just as the Lord said. (1 Samuel 30:18)

Many pastors and leaders have experienced this “Ziklag moment,” where all their hopes, dreams and future are seemingly taken away overnight and they are faced with betrayal and mutiny all around. I have been there. It’s a lonely place when the people who would seemingly follow you anywhere now are turning on you because of the “Ziklag” they find themselves in. We all have a choice there. Do we inquire of the Lord and go for it or do we just quit? I have seen far too many clearly called men of God quit or stop when they came to this Ziklag moment. I have also seen many Christians whose calling was aborted become so jaded and scarred, they fall away from the Lord and never return. I’ve even sadly witnessed wonderful godly pastors die prematurely not accomplishing what they said was in their heart to do!

Ziklag is a fact and happens to the best men, most times through no fault of their own. It is also interesting that the word “Amalek” in Hebrew means pride, an evil eye and those given over to the deepest impurity. God even said in Ex. 17:16 there would be perpetual warfare with Amalek until the end of time. In Jewish tradition Amalek represents pure evil! Therefore, Godly ones will have to face this spirit. If you face a Ziklag moment, you have a choice. Those called to serve the Lord have been given, by God, visions and dreams and they were placed in us so that we would remember them, finish them, and fulfill our reason for being!
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All of us have been given a treasure from the Lord which is His specific gifts, calling, destiny and assignments for us. We have been abundantly supplied with everything we need to succeed (2 Peter 1:3)! The place of blessing is ALWAYS in the place where we align, agree and submit to that purpose we were created for from the foundation of the world! (Eph 1:4-5) This is about fulfilling our purpose or walking away from it.  A Ziklag situation or moment is inevitable for most leaders and has the potential to sabotage the purpose we were created for if we don’t respond to it like David did. How we respond to our Ziglag moment and come out of it is what will enable us to finish. Let’s go to God and get from Him whatever we need to recover the dreams and destinies that have been stolen and finish the race we have been called to!