Encouraged in the Lord

Discouragement is an enemy we all face from time to time. David found himself discouraged and in a very difficult situation in 1 Samuel 30: 1-6. His discouragement was due to the captivity of his family and his follower’s families, the destruction of Ziklag where he and his followers were living at the time, and the threat of rebellion among his followers. In verse 6 it says “But David found strength in the Lord his God” or as the King James version says “but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

Recently, a pastor going through a very difficult time shared that without his relationship with God he would have given up. Learning to encourage ourselves in the Lord is a vital spiritual discipline. I think there were a number of things that converged in David’s mind that enabled him to be strengthened by the Lord at a critical moment in his life.

First of all, David encouraged himself in God’s mercy. He strayed from the will of God and needed His mercy. He grew weary of Saul’s pursuit of his life in Israel and went to Gath where he entered an alliance with King Achish, a Philistine ruler. Achish gave him the city of Ziklag where he and his six hundred men and their families could live. During his 16 month stay in Ziklag David raided communities outside Gath killing the inhabitants and taking their spoils to provide for his followers. Among David’s victims were Amalekites. When Achish questioned him about the source of the spoils David lied saying he had plundered Israelites in Judea. Discouragement comes even when we are in the center of God’s will, but David’s impending dilemma stemmed from his disobedience to God.

Amalekites attacked Ziklag as David and his men were with the armies of the Philistines preparing to fight King Saul and the army of Israel. David offered to fight for the Philistines but the Philistine commanders did not trust him and required that Achish send him and his men home to Ziklag. When they returned they discovered their city burned and their families taken captive. His men were so distraught they threatened to stone him. David then inquired of the Lord and the Lord promised he would successfully rescue his people. Under God’s direction he did so. David was at his best when he inquired of the Lord. When he trusted his own judgment over God’s he failed. Discouragement comes to us all, but when we miss God it is compounded. God’s mercy does not fail, however, and we can look to Him in assurance of His love and readiness to help.

Second, David encouraged himself in God’s promise. God mercifully protected David from fighting against Saul. It was in this battle that Saul’s sons were slain and Saul died falling on his sword after being wounded by the enemy. If David had participated alongside the Philistines in this battle, his ascension to the throne of Israel may have been prevented. God mercifully protected David from himself in this instance and preserved his future. God directed Samuel to anoint David in his youth as the next King of Israel. Though years had passed since that promise was delivered to David the promise remained true. I find it instructive that at the critical moment of the fulfillment of God’s promise David was in peril from within and without.

Third, David encouraged himself in God’s power. He inquired of the Lord in the depths of his distress. Time and again David had experienced God’s overcoming power. God enabled him as a boy to kill a lion and a bear in defense of his sheep. With God’s help he defeated the giant Goliath on the field of battle. God preserved him time and again from Saul’s efforts to locate and kill him. When all seemed lost from the human perspective he knew God was greater than any circumstance and he put his trust in God.

Out of this crisis David renewed his commitment to the plan of God and returned to Israel. It wasn’t long before he was anointed King over Judah and later King over all of Israel. There is strength in the Lord our God. Be encouraged in Him.