David Strengthened Himself in God

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”

Everything seemed to be against David: Living in the land of the Philistines because the king of Israel sought to kill him even though God’s anointing oil had marked David as the chosen successor to the king….at first, there seemed to be indications that God’s blessing was on him even in exile, for Achish looked on David with such favor that he gave David a city and made him his bodyguard. But now, on the eve of battle, the lords of the Philistines rejected David and his men, sending them back to Ziklag–and on arriving at Ziklag, they find that all of their families have been captured by a marauding band. David’s men might have grumbled, “We were not supposed to be here anyway! What were you thinking by serving the Philistines? This is probably God’s judgment on us for not living in His will, in Israel.”

Let’s give that comment as much credit as possible for a moment. What if David’s presence in Philistine territory was a lapse of faith? Is God sovereign over lapses of faith? I am reminded of Jonah’s flight to Tarshish “away from the presence of the LORD” as he supposed! Due to his disobedience, he was thrown overboard into the sea and swallowed by a fish. When the sea grew immediately calm, that boatload of heathens made sacrifices to Yahweh. God redeems even the rebellion of His own. Even if David was in his situation because of his own weakness (and that is up for debate), he knew enough to trust that God was still in control.

All things working together for the good of those who love God who are called according to his purpose (Rom.8:28) includes the failures of those who love God! David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. When I see the personal name of the LORD (Yahweh), I remember that this is the name by which God introduced himself to Moses in Exodus 3. This God pursues relationship with those who bear his image. And the word “God” means, “the one I worship.” David put confidence in the deity he worshipped because he trusted that God was still in pursuit of him in faithfulness. This same confidence is supposed to be ours in all our distresses.