1 Samuel, 30
14. We made an invasion [upon] the south of the Cherethites, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
14. We made an invasion [upon] the south of the Cherethites, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
1 Samuel 30 narrates the episode in which David and his men return to Ziclague and discover that the city was looted and their women and children were taken as captive by the Amalequitas. David leads his men in search of the Amalequites and, with the help of God, defeats them and rescues their families. The verses selected below deal with topics such as the loss and recovery of goods and family, the importance of trust in God in difficult times and generosity and social responsibility.
Genesis 14:16: "And brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and the women and the people." This verse reports the rescue of Lot and his goods after he was captured by the kings who warned in the region. Just as David rescued his family and goods, Abram also rescued Lot and his goods. Both trusted God and were successful in their mission.
Psalm 34:18: "Near the lord of those who have a broken heart and save those of the oppressed spirit." This verse talks about God's proximity to those who are going through difficult times. When David and his men arrived in Ziclague and found that their families had been captured, they were devastated and their hearts broken. This verse highlights the importance of trust in God in times of adversity.
Proverbs 3:27: "Do not refuse a favor to those who need it, being in your hands the ability to accomplish it." This verse talks about the importance of being generous and helping those who need it. When David and his men rescued their families, they also found an Egyptian abandoned by the Amalequites. They fed him and took care of him before interrogating him and finding the location of the Amalequitas. This verse highlights the importance of generosity and social responsibility.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies and God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our tribulation, so that we may also comfort those who are in any Anguish, with the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted by God. " This excerpt talks about the consolation that God offers us in times of tribulation and how we can use it to comfort those who are also experiencing difficulties. When David and his men found the Egyptian abandoned by the Amalequites, they fed him and took care of him before interrogating him and discovering the location of the Amalequitas. This verse highlights the importance of being comforted by God so that we can comfort others.
Matthew 6:19-21: "You do not accumulate to you treasures on the earth, where trace and rust run and where thieves steal and steal; but gather to you treasures in the sky, where neither the trace nor the rust corrupt, and where Thieves do not dig or steal; for where your treasure is, there will be your heart too. " These verses address the importance of valuing and investing in eternal things rather than earthly treasures, which are perishable and can be lost. The text reminds us that the place where we deposit our riches reveals the true position of our hearts.
“O Senhor nos dá tantas graças e nós pensamos que tocamos o céu com um dedo. Não sabemos, no entanto, que para crescer precisamos de pão duro, das cruzes, das humilhações, das provações e das contradições.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina