{ Day 262 }

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” —Jeremiah 29:13-14

One reason God gave David only one-twelfth of the kingdom in Hebron was because He wanted David’s core of fighting men—the future army of Israel—to become mature and seasoned. God wanted a core of submitted, committed leaders free of ambition. To their credit, these men became righteous warriors, using their strength for the greater glory of God and Israel instead of doing their own thing. They found the secret that working together produces far greater results than going it alone. Hebron speaks to us of finding God in times of partial fulfillment of His promises. This can be a painful season in our lives. The blessing seems to come so slow. You may pass the test of isolation and obscurity in Bethlehem, the test of early promotion in Gibeah, and the test of adversity in Adullam. But many of God’s servants stumble in this place represented by Hebron. We must keep our identities in Him even when the promises are at our very fingertips. Even in that place of tantalizing closeness, God demands a righteous response.

{ PRAYER STARTER }

Father, when my Hebron seems empty and lonely, and only a few others seem willing to fellowship with You, teach me that a few is mighty in Your power. Raise us up a mighty army You can use to make Your name great among our nation. Make us righteous in our Hebron.

Our greatest private agenda must remain to
be loved by God and to be a lover of God.