"Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
We live in a world where "thieves break through and steal"; but I'm speaking of thieves much more dangerous than those who would break into our home and steal some "stuff". For really, all material things finally amount to is "stuff". But there are thieves more dangerous than this, who want to break into our lives to rob us of things much more precious than silver and gold. These are thieves who uncaringly and destructively seek to rob us of things money can't buy: love, peace and joy. And many times, this is so entertwined with the things most precious to us, that it hurts like nothing else can hurt. David and his men felt this kind of thievery as they returned to the place where they had left their wives and children, only to find that the city had been burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive by some raiding Amelekites. We can only imagine what David and his men must have felt. The writer describes their great sense of loss: "Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep," (I Samuel 30:4). On top of this, in their anguish, the men began to turn on David, blaming him for their loss. These are awful moments. These are awful circumstances; when you're whole world has come crashing down on you and you feel like there's no one to turn to. Verse 6 says, "David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters." But there was Someone to turn to! Always! Always! When the enemy of our soul comes to rob us of that which God has given to us, the greatest gifts one could ever know, of love, peace and joy, don't let him get away with it. Never! Never! David immediately called on the God who had given him inner life. In the depths of his distress, the scripture says, "David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." The words "strengthened himself" literally mean "to latch onto" or "hold onto". He just simply wouldn't let go of God, the very source of love, peace and joy. Only He is the giver of life, and only as we intertwine our life in His Life will we find the very gifts that have to do with real life. This is where David found his courage and encouragement, and he found this even before the wives and children were restored. How opposite of what so many of us think, believing that if God will change our circumstances, we will be happy. But that's not the way it works. Happiness is never found in our circumstances, no matter how much we seek this way. It is found only in Him, the Giver of real life. But mind you, God cares about our circumstances too, especially as relates to the things that really matter in life--family and friends. With the help of God, the wives and children were restored. But, overall, what was it Jesus said? Yes! "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." That's it! That's it! May God help us to learn this truth; always putting first things first. This is a tough one, isn't it? I'm learning with you.
We live in a world where "thieves break through and steal"; but I'm speaking of thieves much more dangerous than those who would break into our home and steal some "stuff". For really, all material things finally amount to is "stuff". But there are thieves more dangerous than this, who want to break into our lives to rob us of things much more precious than silver and gold. These are thieves who uncaringly and destructively seek to rob us of things money can't buy: love, peace and joy. And many times, this is so entertwined with the things most precious to us, that it hurts like nothing else can hurt. David and his men felt this kind of thievery as they returned to the place where they had left their wives and children, only to find that the city had been burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive by some raiding Amelekites. We can only imagine what David and his men must have felt. The writer describes their great sense of loss: "Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep," (I Samuel 30:4). On top of this, in their anguish, the men began to turn on David, blaming him for their loss. These are awful moments. These are awful circumstances; when you're whole world has come crashing down on you and you feel like there's no one to turn to. Verse 6 says, "David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters." But there was Someone to turn to! Always! Always! When the enemy of our soul comes to rob us of that which God has given to us, the greatest gifts one could ever know, of love, peace and joy, don't let him get away with it. Never! Never! David immediately called on the God who had given him inner life. In the depths of his distress, the scripture says, "David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." The words "strengthened himself" literally mean "to latch onto" or "hold onto". He just simply wouldn't let go of God, the very source of love, peace and joy. Only He is the giver of life, and only as we intertwine our life in His Life will we find the very gifts that have to do with real life. This is where David found his courage and encouragement, and he found this even before the wives and children were restored. How opposite of what so many of us think, believing that if God will change our circumstances, we will be happy. But that's not the way it works. Happiness is never found in our circumstances, no matter how much we seek this way. It is found only in Him, the Giver of real life. But mind you, God cares about our circumstances too, especially as relates to the things that really matter in life--family and friends. With the help of God, the wives and children were restored. But, overall, what was it Jesus said? Yes! "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." That's it! That's it! May God help us to learn this truth; always putting first things first. This is a tough one, isn't it? I'm learning with you.
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