Strengthen Yourself in the LORD

David faced many difficult and stressful situations in his life, and some of these were the direct result of decisions he made without seeking the LORD.  When he fled from his house to save his life, he went the the priests at Nob and obtained the sword of Goliath--and then went to Achish, king of Gath!  Gath was the hometown of Goliath, and it wasn't until David was in the city and being brought before the king he realised the serious trouble he was in!  On another occasion David, weary of avoiding king Saul's relentless pursuits to kill him, feigned allegience to king Achish and was given permission to live in Ziklag.  David and his men had left Ziklag to go to battle, yet when they returned they found the town burnt with fire and all their wives and children taken captive.  A band of Amalekites had swept through and plundered the region, and David and his men had lost everything.

1 Samuel 30:4-6 reads, "Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ⁵ And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."  David and his men had expected a joyful reunion upon their return, but instead they were met with destruction and desolation.  Their wives and little ones were gone, and they did not know what happened to them.  David and all the people wept until they lacked strength to weep, for they had all lost what was most dear to them.  These grieving, furious men spoke of stoning David, which was a great concern on top of his own grief.  Yet in this dark moment of feeling hopeless and powerless, David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Consider what you or others may have done under the duress David experienced.  Many would try to defend themselves, make excuses, shift blame onto others, curse, become angry, lash out with words and fight back.  David could have challenged those who considered executing him and shown them who was really in charge!  David could have run away, felt depressed and drank himself drunk or resigned from his leadership role so someone else could sort out the mess.  Instead, David strengthened himself in God.  He discovered great strength in remembering God who called him and anointed him as king, the LORD who protected him when he shepherded his father's sheep, the God of Israel who helped him defeat a lion, bear, Goliath of Gath, and helped him avoid that small step between him and death for years.  He remembered God who sent Abigail who urged him not to avenge himself on Nabal, the God who knows all and answers the prayers of those who cry out to Him, the LORD who graciously speaks to those who have neglected to seek Him.

Thus strengthened in the LORD his God David knew, he then inquired of God.  1 Samuel 30:7-8 says, "Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ⁸ So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."  Having been strengthend in God, David sought the LORD, in faith followed God's guidance for his life and led his men to victory.  The LORD was faithful to His promise, for David and his men recovered every single family member and obtained great plunder from the Amalekites--men God had designated for destruction.  The world values strength and independence, those who appear unflappable under pressure--yet this is a mirage, a romantic ideal not found among the strongest men or women.  We ultimately find ourselves without strength.  It is only by knowing God and being strengthened in Him God's people are led wisely and find success in all God guides us to do, for He is faithful.  It was in the midst of weakness, grief and distress David found strength in God, and this strength isn't just for kings:  it is a gracious gift for all who are weak from the KING OF KINGS, Jesus Christ.