BEN F. VICK, JR.
King Saul, out of envy, had been in hot pursuit of David to kill him. He sought him every day. Saul said to the Ziphites, “Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.” (1 Sam. 23:22-23.) Saul would spare no effort to destroy a man who had done him no wrong.
After David had spared King Saul’s life on two occasions, he fled to Gath, a city of the Philistines, enemies of Israel. There he met with King Achish and was given Ziklag, a town near Israel’s southwest border. It would be a place of refuge for David, his family, and his men and their families. During the year and four months he was there, he made raids of the heathen, who were enemies of Israel and the Philistines. The historian wrote, “And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.” (1 Sam. 27:8-9.) After David returned, King Achish asked him, “Where have ye made a road today?” Another rendering is “Where have you made a raid today?” Achish wanted David to report on his day’s activities. David said, “Against the south of Judah, and against the south of Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.” (1 Sam. 27:10.) David did not attack his people Israel.
The question, “Where have you made a raid today?” in principle, is good for one to ask himself at the end of the day. What have I done today? Did I go to God in prayer when I arose from sleep this morning? Did I go into my closet to pray for my family, the church, the elders of the church, the preacher, the sick, the missionaries struggling under challenging conditions? Did I pray for kings and for all who are in authority? Did I pray for my spiritual growth? Did I say a prayer for lost souls that I might reach them with the gospel?
Did I take time to let God speak to me through his word? Did I just read words, having given the precious Word a cursory reading? So I could say, “I read my Bible today.” Or did I meditate on its truths (2 Tim. 2:15)? Did I think how can I apply this to myself (John 13:17)? What did I do for others today?
It is good for one’s husband or one’s wife to ask the other: What have you accomplished today? Or what have you done today? Wives should want to know what their husbands have accomplished during the day. Husbands should take time to listen to their wives’ busy day. Did you tell your wife you love her (Eph. 5:25)? Did you tell your husband you love him (Titus 2:4)? Loving our mates means listening to them and caring about their day’s activities.
It is good to ask our children and grandchildren: What did you learned in school today? What did you accomplish? Fathers, what have you done today with your children? When you came home from a busy day, did you take time to listen to them? Did you play with them? Did you hug them and let them know that you love them? Did you sit down at the dinner table with them? Did you read them a Bible story, sing some spiritual songs, and have a prayer with them before you tuck them in at night (Eph. 6:4)?
Mothers, you may be a stay-at-home mom, but what are you doing with your children? Are you telling them Bible stories? Did you sing spiritual songs with them? Are you praying with them? Teaching them how to behave in church services? One might be at home with her children, yet a million miles away mentally (Titus 2:4).
Where have you made a raid today?