David Strengthened Himself In The Lord

Psalm 119:28; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 22:19; Psalm 28:7-8; Psalm 118:14; Isaiah 40:29; Ephesians 6:10; Ephesians 3:16

A man after God's own heart. That's how 1 Samuel 13 portrays Israel's second and highly favored king as God rejects king Saul for his continued disobedience. For sure David had his own faults, but what kept him in God's favor was his penitent heart. 

In chapter 27 of 1 Samuel, David exhibits an unwise decision as he decides to escape to the land of the Philistines as the only way to elude Saul's grasp. Saul had begun a relentless pursuit of David out of jealousy. Previously, David had sought the Lord for such matters but this time he goes it on his own. He is taken in by a man named Achish (the son of the king of Gath) and winds up settling in Ziklag.

During his time there, the Philistines decide to go up against Israel in battle and David is told by Achish that he must join them. David agrees and he and his men bring up the rear. However, along the route, as the commanders of the Philistines discover the "Hebrews" among them, David and his men are sent packing. These commanders fear that David will defect to Israel once the battle begins. So David heads back to his "home away from home" in Ziklag. Upon their return they find that Ziklag had been raided and burned to the ground. Their wives and children had been taken captive by the Amalekites. The Word says they wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Then their grief turned to anger and they begin to blame David and even talked of stoning him.

That's when David finally does what David did best. Chapter 30, verse 6 says that he strengthened himself in the Lord his God. He then inquired of the Lord as to the next move, and with God's help, rescued all that were taken captive and retrieved all of the spoils they were robbed of and then some! He got a bonus check to boot! 

At times we may find ourselves living in a situation similar to that of David in this passage. And quite often it's no one's fault but our own. But thankfully, if we trust in the Lord as David did, we will find that as Psalm 145:8 says, The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. (NASB) God is patient toward us and His lovingkindness is everlasting. Like David, we can strengthen ourselves in Him, look to Him for guidance, and rest assured that Christ, our King, has secured our victory. He has bought back all of that which the enemy has robbed us of. He has paid the price for our salvation. The victory is ours for the asking. And the bonus check is out of this world!

1 Samuel 30:6 (NASB) Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Pastor Mike Deese