1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Still being pursued by Saul, David returns to a town (Ziklag) which he had begun to call home and found that it had been destroyed by the Amakelites. Not only was the city burned, but all their women and children were taken away. Remember, David & his men had just been rejected by the Philistine commanders to join their army. (1 Samuel 29:8). The frustration was too much that David and his people wept, until they had no more power to weep. And that’s not all, his men now blamed him and turned to stone him.
I am stirred by David’s response in such an overwhelming moment, he encourages himself in the LORD his God. This is surely a man whose soul is fully yielded to God, a man after God’s heart, (1 Samuel 13:14 & Acts 13:22) Have you ever been in a situation and no one else is around to encourage you? David’s immediate response was to find strength in his God. Note that the “strengthening” isn’t coming from outside; it’s by the Spirit of God that’s already inside of you. You only need to be aware of Him.
Isn’t it the same David who said, If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (Psalm 139:8) A man who was very sure of God’s presence.Who is your God? Do you quickly find strength in Him? Do you see Him, or do you have to run somewhere to Him for Him?
1 Corinthians 6:17 says,but he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
David seeks his God who responds immediately. 1 Samuel 30:8 says, And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
It is in the nature of God to speak and direct our paths always. Isaiah 30:21 says, and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
God told David to go and pursue them, and David did exactly that. When God speaks, be obedient enough to do what He says. It is in the doing the last thing He told you, that more will be revealed to you.
David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away (1 Samuel 30:18). David even received beyond what was taken from Ziklag. God will do exceedingly above what you ask or imagine.
Another interesting act from David is that he ensured that the spoils (items that are taken from an enemy during a war) were distributed equally among those who fought and those who supported (1 Samuel 30:21-25) When God blesses you, it is for a greater multitude. Empty yourself by sharing God with others, then you will have room to receive more. Strengthen yourself in your God, for others!
The moral is this story is that David strengthened himself in his God, He enquired of Him and then did what He told him to do. Then, he had good success.
Prophetic Utterance:
Every fibre of my being is energised and infused with God’s power. I’m strengthened and refreshed by the Holy Spirit in my inner man, thereby competent for any task. I’m conscious of, and function with His divine power that works in me mightily.
Guiding text:
Ephesians 3:14-16
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;