(I’m warning you, this is a little long, but if you stick with it, it should bless you)
What is a comeback? “A return to formerly enjoyed status or prosperity”. Many artists have made a comeback. Artists such as Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, and LL Cool J have all made their comebacks. Michael Jackson was about to go on a great comeback tour before his death. Whitney Houston is one of our most recent comeback artist with her new album featuring her gospel single “ I Look to You” What do all of these people have in common? They fought to regain the status they once had when they were on top of their game.
However do you know who was the most famous biblical comeback king? David, King of Israel. Think about it! David came from very meager means, however after King Saul’s death was appointed king upon God’s instruction to Samuel the prophet. (1 Samuel 16:1-13) Before he became king, he slew the giant, Goliath with a sling, a stone and a lot of faith.
(1 Sam 17:38-49) After that, he became a favorite among the people. He then had to become a fugitive from Saul who was trying to kill him although he conquered a giant for him and at one time saved Saul’s life. After he became king, he was on top again. He had wealth, power and he was spiritually strong. That didn’t last long! He fell spiritually after he coveted Bathsheba while she was bathing herself as he was out on his terrace. He sent for her and committed adultery. She became pregnant and then David plotted to have her husband killed in battle by putting him in the frontline. He then took Bathsheba as his wife. (2 Sam 11:1-27) Okay without counting, David broke at least 3 commandments with this one affair! I’m sure this was a spiritual low for the king. Although that was a major spiritual setback, David repented and overcame.
Things did not get easier for the king after that. There were constant conflicts and turmoil within his own family. One of his sons, Ammon, raped his half sister, Tamar, and refused to marry her. (2 Samuel 13) (That was the more acceptable solution during that time) His other son, Absalom, killed Ammon and then later on tried to overtake the throne from his father along with some of is other brothers and some of David’s kingdom. I’m sure this was a popularity low point for David. Betrayed by his own sons! How low can one get! Again he became a fugitive, this time, from his own son. Despite David’s commands to his army generals, Absalom was killed and David mourned deeply. That must have been an emotional low point for the king! However, I am sure David being the man he was he bounced back from that and then another son, Adonijah, (1 Kings 1) led an attempted coup d’ etat against his father to take away his power. His wife of adulterous means, Bathsheba, stopped that and upon David’s instructions, appointed her son, Solomon, as his successor. (1 Kings 1:28-40)

What a vicarious comeback! Think about it! Bathsheba, who became his wife by ill-gotten means, lost their first baby that ultimately led to the death of her first hustband, Uriah. She had another son, named Solomon whom God allowed to become King of Israel. Wow! All about that working together for the good scenario, huh?

Are you experiencing any setbacks now? Have you ever experienced any setbacks? Were you at one time on top of your spiritual game? Perhaps you were a Sunday School teacher, an outreach witness, a choir member, a prayer warrior, an evangelist, a preacher or even a pastor. Perhaps you were none of those titles and was just more spiritually stronger in your walk and faith with God. Please believe that until you take your last breath, there is still hope for you! Make a comeback! Think about David who overcame time and time again and did not let these setbacks hold him down. He constantly repented and came back to God. God readily opened His arms and accepted him. He was called a “man after God’s own heart”. This, about a man who constantly screwed up! He was called that because he knew how to repent! Serious kudos to David, the most famous comeback king ever!

Take Me Back, take me back dear Lord to the place where I was at a spiritual high. Take me back to when I was busy for your kingdom and was content in the joy of doing so. Allow me to make a spiritual comeback, not for my sake, but for thine glory. In Jesus name, Amen.