His Strength for Our Weakness
And David was greatly distressed, but David strengthened himself in the Lord. (I Sam. 30:6)
I Sam 30:1-6, 27:1-7, 24:5-10; Ps. 18:1, 14; Ps. 27:1; II Cor. 12:9; Phil. 4:13, 4:19
What Is God Saying?
David knew he was the target of Saul’s jealous anger. He had opportunities to stop Saul in his tracks- a single spear thrust would have done it. David’s belief in the authority and power of God prevented him from harming Saul, ‘I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed’ (I Sam. 24:10). To make his point, he showed Saul a porti0n of his robe which he had cut off, proving that he could have easily dispatched him. Then he said, ‘The Lord avenge me upon you, but my hand shall not be against you’ (I Sam. 24:15).
So, waiting on God’s will and timing, David left his accustomed surroundings to live at Gath under the protection of Achish, the King of the Philistines. In return for this protection and hospitality, he sometimes deployed his forces against their common enemy, the Amalekites. Once, when David and his men were called away from their home base of Ziklag, they returned to find their city pillaged, their homes destroyed, and their families taken. It was an unbearable crisis: ‘They wept until they had no more strength to weep’ (I Sam. 30:4). David heard that his soldiers were talking about making him pay with his life. His spirit was crushed. He knew the anguish of his followers. Even his beloved wife, Abigail, was missing. However, when trouble comes, David knows where to go, ‘He strengthened himself in the Lord his God.’
How Does This Apply To Us?
We also have our times of stress and distress. We sometimes feel the pangs of injustice, the helplessness when strength is unequal to the task, and the pain from doing our best only to find it does no good. Trouble seeks us out and, like a barking dog, never leaves our heels. We are vulnerable to discouragement, fear, and doubt. Pause in your fight or flight to remember that God is in control. His love replenishes our strength; His truth guides our way; our life, destiny, and future are in His hands. He who loved us and gave Himself for us will never drop us. ‘[We] can do all things in him who strengthens (us).’
Pray With Me
O Lord my God, I know where to go when trouble comes, where to find peace when I am greatly distressed. I know One whose strength is inexhaustible and whose love is never-ending, but to know is not to go. To be convinced is not enough. Grant me the further and fuller grace of doing what can and should be done. Forgive me for giving any quarter to self-pity. Forgive me for giving distress and fear a foothold. Forgive me for doubting that Your grace is sufficient and Your strength made perfect in weakness. May the knowledge of Your bountiful love and trust in Your wisdom bring me to the self-surrender and self-fulfillment that David found when he ‘strengthened himself m the Lord his God.’
You did it, O God, but not without David’s willingness. He made the decision. He turned away from the failure of self to the victory of God. He saw through the facade of fear to the inner calm of eternal love. He accepted Your gift. He strengthened himself. A person must lower a bucket in the well for water. I draw my strength from You as I fill the vessel from the well. So I come out of great distress into quiet strength. The only way I can strengthen myself is ‘in the Lord my God.’
So let it be, O Christ, whose strength is made perfect in weakness. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Prayer is strength-giving nourishment. Prayer is a fountain that refreshes—prayer is resting on the promises of God. Prayer is the discovery that sometimes, when we ask for lighter burdens, we are given stronger backs. ‘God will supply every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.’ That is prayer at its best-prayer that keeps us at our best. ‘We kneel how weak; we rise how full of strength.’
