"DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD" 

                               1 Samuel 30:6   

  INTRODUCTION 

  1. What's the first thing you do in time of trouble? 

   a. Everybody has problems from time to time,

             but not everyone solves their problems in the same way 

   b. What IS the best way? 

 2. One person in the Bible who had more than his share of trouble was 

   King David... 

   a. For example: 

           1) He was pursued by King Saul 

           2) He barely escaped several assassination attempts 

            3) He had to spend much time hiding in the wilderness 

            4) His entire family was kidnapped on 1 occasion 

            5) Friends turned against him, ready to kill him 

            6) He suffered the shame of having committed adultery and murder 

            7) His son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar 

            8) His other son Absalom murdered Amnon 

            9) Absalom led a revolt against his father 

            10)Absalom was killed, much to David's grief 

           b. Need I go on?  David was certainly a man with many problems! 

 3. Yet somehow, he survived them all and has come to be remembered as

             "a man after God's own heart."  How was he able to do this? 

[I believe we can find the answer as we consider what David did

 when faced with one of his most serious problems as recorded in 1 Sam 30:1-6...] 

I. WHAT DAVID DID IN TIMES OF TROUBLE 

   A. THE CONTEXT OF 1 SAMUEL 30:1-6 ...  

Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day,

 that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,

 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great;

 they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.

 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire;

 and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

 4 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.

1. At this time in his life, David living in Ziklag 

         a. Having fled from King Saul 

         b. And was now aligned with the Philistines 

      2. The Philistines were preparing to battle King Saul,

                 and David and his men had gone to join with the Philistines 

      3. But the Philistines did not fully trust David, so they sent him and his men back to Ziklag 

B. READING 1 SAMUEL 30:1-6 , WE FIND... 

      1. That the town of Ziklag had been attacked and burned by the Amalekites - 1 

      2. The women and children had been kidnapped, including those of his family - 2-5 

      3. Naturally David is distressed; but on top of this,

 the people are ready to kill him for not having been there when he was needed - 6 

   C. BUT NOTICE CAREFULLY THE LAST PART OF VERSE 6 

      1. What does David do when he has lost his family, and his own life is threatened? 

      2. The Scriptures say, "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." 

      3. This is what David did 1st in times of trouble 

              a. He strengthened himself in the Lord! 

                       b. With the strength he received,

                           he was then able to deal with whatever the problem was before him! 

[But what does it mean to "strengthen himself in the Lord his God"? 

In an effort to answer this question, I found it helpful to consider some of the Psalms

 written by David during troublesome times...] 

II. HOW DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD 

   A. IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, DAVID OFTEN COMPOSED PSALMS... 

      1. While pursued by Saul, he wrote Ps 59:1-3

           Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;

           Defend me from those who rise up against me.

           Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,

           And save me from bloodthirsty men.

           For look, they lie in wait for my life;

           The mighty gather against me,

      2. When imprisoned in Gath, he wrote Ps 56:1-3

              Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;

              Fighting all day he oppresses me.

              My enemies would hound me all day,

              For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

              Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

      3. Fleeing from Absalom, he wrote Ps 3:1

              LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!

             Many are they who rise up against me.

      4. Hiding in the wilderness of Judah, he wrote Psalm 63 

               God, You are my God; Early will I seek You;

               My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You

               In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

               So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

               To see Your power and Your glory.

               Because Your loving kindness is better than life,

               My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live;

               I will lift up my hands in Your name.

               My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

               And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

               When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches

                Because You have been my help,

                Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

                My soul follows close behind You;

                Your right hand upholds me.

                But those who seek my life, to destroy it,

                Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

                They shall fall by the sword;

                They shall be a portion for jackals.

                But the king shall rejoice in God;

                Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;

                But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

   B. FROM THESE PSALMS, WE CAN GLEAN HOW

 "DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD"... 

      1. From Psalm 56 David would place his trust in God to help him - Ps 56:3-4   

      2. From Psalm 59, David was continued praising God for His help - Ps 59:16-17   

      3. From Psalm 63, we see that David overcame his problem of loneliness by... 

         a. Seeking the Lord - Ps 63:1

         b. Praising and praying - Ps 63:3-5   

         c. Meditating upon the Lord - Ps 63:6-7   

      4. In each of these psalms, David is basically saying the same thing... 

         a. In time of trouble, put your trust in Lord 

         b. Stay close to Him, through praising Him and praying to Him 

         c. Do this, and you will be made strong as the Lord supports you! - cf. Ps 63:8   

[This was how "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God",

 and was able to face and overcome his problems with the help the Lord gave him. 

 How about us today?  In times of trouble, do we follow David's example? 

Consider a few thoughts along this line...] 

III. DEALING WITH OUR PROBLEMS TODAY 

   A. WE FACE MANY PROBLEMS, EVEN AS CHRISTIANS... 

      1. Some are related to family, or other matters of personal concern 

      2. Some are related to jobs, and the issue of financial security 

   B. IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE TRY TO TACKLE THEIR PROBLEMS ALONE... 

      1. They leave God completely out of the picture 

      2. Sometimes they even forsake Him entirely... 

            a. By no longer praising Him and praying to Him daily 

            b. By neglecting the assembly in which we gather to edify one another and worship God 

      3. The reasoning is often expressed this way: 

"Let me get my life straight, then I will be able to serve God and live for Him." 

   C. BUT GOD IS ANGERED IF WE SEEK TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WITHOUT HIM! 

      1. God considers such a person as cursed! - cf. Jer 17:5-8

"Cursed is the man who trusts in man

And makes flesh his strength,

Whose heart departs from the LORD.

6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,

And shall not see when good comes,

But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,

In a salt land which is not inhabited.

      2. A good example of God's people failing to look to Him for strength is found in Isaiah... 

         a. When attacked by Assyria, Israel placed her trust in Egypt Isa 30:1-2

"Woe to the rebellious children," says the LORD,

"Who take counsel, but not of Me,

And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,

That they may add sin to sin;

Who walk to go down to Egypt,

And have not asked My advice,

To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,

And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

         b. Because of this, God promised to frustrate the efforts of Israel

 to solve her problems by herself! - Isa 30:3 ; Isa 30:3

Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame,

And trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation.

         c. Yes, God wanted Israel to trust in Him, not themselves  Isa 30:15-16

For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

But you would not,

And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" —

Therefore you shall flee!

And, "We will ride on swift horses" —

Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

      3. Even so today, God wants us to put our trust in Him - cf. Ja 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners;

 and purify your hearts, you double-minded.           1 Pet 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

           a. The truth of the matter is this... 

      1) It is NOT "God helps those who help themselves" 

            2) But rather Pro 3:5-6

                      Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

                      And lean not on your own understanding;

                      In all your ways acknowledge Him,

                      And He shall direct your paths.

            b. When we leave God out of the picture in solving problems... 

            1) One thing is certain:  God leaves us to deal with those problems on our own,

 and without His help! 

            2) Another thing is possible:  In an act of loving discipline,

God might frustrate our efforts to solve our problems independent of His help

 (He certainly disciplined Israel that way!) 

CONCLUSION 

1. So let us learn from one experienced in dealing with problems 

   (David)... 

   a. In times of trouble, look to the Lord for your strength! 

   b. Trust in the Lord, and be steadfast in praising Him and praying to Him 

   c. Don't forsake Him, nor forsake the assembly of the saints in which we draw near to Him 

2. Let what David said of himself be true of us as well: 

    "My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me." Psa 63:8 ) 

3. Remember that those who trust in God will find strength, deliverance, and true happiness! 

Do you trust in the Lord?  Or in your own strength?  Let the Lord be your deliverance! 

Especially when it pertains to the problem of the guilt of sin...