The traditional way of inductive Bible study leads to one overall conclusion – the one that lines up with the context and agrees with the determinations of scholars in both hermeneutical and exegetical study. It’s what keeps you tethered in your morning, staying inside of the boundaries, not straying off or mistakingly placing yourself and your culture squarely inside of a story that was never intended for either.

You absolutely want to follow those standards, rules, and boundaries. But then, look again, because there is always a sub-lesson waiting to be found.

Here, in this verse from 1 Samuel 30, the context is one in which men were genuinely and understandably exhausted. They had been fighting long and hard until they had no fight left, many of them also actively grieving from the kind of insurmountable loss that comes with war.

They had every reason to stay behind. To bow this one out. To sit by the brook for awhile and let the rest of the troop keep on with the pursuit. They even shared the spoil when the army returned victorious at David’s insistence. If there was no shame from the king, then no shame was to be had.

But something tugged at me as I read the words, looking deeper, wanting an excuse to stop pursuing a calling just because the hustle is waring. I learned that Brook Besor means cheerful, and it also means cold. But if you peel it back one more layer and look at the root, you’ll see: it also means to gladden with good news. 🤯

If you aren’t living in a physical warzone, you are absolutely daily in a spiritual one. So we need to pull one out of David’s book and keep pursuing – following hard after Jesus. Because when you do? He renews your strength to press forward, push publish, and preach.

Are you tired today? Don’t let the weariness win. Keep doing good, sharing good, speaking good, sowing good. You will reap – if you don’t lose heart.