Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. – Psalm 35:1
David was distressed. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Achish the Philistine King was preparing to fight Israel. David, who had sought shelter with Achish, had also found favour with him. And so Achish asked David to accompany him into war. However, the Philistine army commanders were not pleased. They insisted that Achish send David and his men back, for they feared that David could turn against them in the war. And so, David and his men returned to their homes in Ziglag.
On arriving at Ziklag, David and his men are in for a shock. The Amalekites had attacked, raided and burnt down the town and taken everyone, all their women, children and the old, captive. David and his men were distressed, and they wept until they could weep no more. Does that kind of pain sound familiar?
And if this was not enough, David’s men became bitter and turned against him. They were so overwhelmed by their sorrow that they even began to talk about stoning him. David was distressed and his loss heavy.
David, in all his pain and distress, the Bible says, strengthened himself in the Lord. David’s pain was real. It was more than he could bear. He cried, and he cried. But then David didn’t stop there. In his pain and his sorrow and when he was overwhelmed, David turned to the Lord for comfort, direction, and guidance.
Life is tough and can sometimes be very painful. We can either, like
David’s men, become bitter in our sorrow or like David, seek the Lord for comfort, strength, and counsel. How does life’s situation leave you, bitter or strengthened in the Lord?
Father, that I would choose to strengthen myself in you, I pray.
Extended Reading — 1 Samuel 28-31; Psalm 18
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