1 Samuel 30:1-7: a reflection

1When David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid on the South and on Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They didn’t kill any, but carried them off and went their way. 3When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters were taken captive. 4Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep. 5David’s two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 7David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

When David and his men return to find their city burned and their families carried off, and even his own men turn against him in their grief and speak of stoning him, David does a crucial thing in his utter distress: he strengthens himself in the LORD his God. David was greatly distressed, the account says, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were grieved; but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Everything had collapsed: his home destroyed, his family taken, his loyal men now turned against him in their own grief, so that he was distressed and alone. And yet, in this depth of distress, David found strength not in himself or his circumstances, which offered none, but in the LORD his God. This shows that we can strengthen ourselves in the LORD in the midst of the deepest distress. Strengthen yourself in the LORD when everything collapses. In the depth of distress, David found strength in God. When circumstances offer no strength, we can strengthen ourselves in the LORD. David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Notice how deep David's distress was, and where he found strength. Everything had gone wrong at once: his city burned, his wives and children carried off, and, in a final blow, his own men, in their grief, turning against him and speaking of stoning him. He was distressed, bereaved, and now alone, with no one to comfort or support him. There was no strength to be found in his circumstances, which were all against him, nor in the people, who had turned on him. And yet David did not collapse into despair; he strengthened himself in the LORD his God. When there was no strength anywhere else, he turned to God and found strength in him. This is a crucial example for us. There are times when everything seems to collapse at once, when our circumstances offer no comfort, and even those we counted on turn against us or cannot help, so that we are distressed and alone. In such times, we can do what David did: strengthen ourselves in the LORD our God. When there is no strength to be found in our circumstances or in others, there is strength to be found in God, who is our refuge and strength. We can turn to him, remember his faithfulness, take hold of his promises, and find in him the strength to go on that we cannot find elsewhere. When everything collapses, strengthen yourself in the LORD your God. There is strength in God when there is none in our circumstances. Turn to God for strength when even others cannot help. Strengthen yourself in the LORD, your refuge and strength.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can strengthen ourselves in the LORD our God even in the deepest distress, when our circumstances and others offer no strength, as David strengthened himself in the LORD when everything collapsed. We can be overwhelmed when everything goes wrong at once and even those we counted on turn against us, with no strength to be found in our circumstances or in others; but David, in just such distress, strengthened himself in the LORD his God. God is our strength. When everything collapses and you are distressed and alone, do not despair; strengthen yourself in the LORD your God, as David did. Strengthen yourself in the LORD your God in the midst of the deepest distress, when your circumstances and even others offer no strength, as David, returning to find his city burned, his family carried off, and his own men in their grief turning against him and speaking of stoning him, so that he was greatly distressed and alone, did not collapse into despair but strengthened himself in the LORD his God; for there are times when everything seems to collapse at once, when our circumstances offer no comfort and even those we counted on turn against us or cannot help, so that we are distressed and alone with no strength to be found anywhere else, but in such times we can do what David did and turn to God, who is our refuge and strength, remembering his faithfulness, taking hold of his promises, and finding in him the strength to go on that we cannot find in our circumstances or in others, so that when everything collapses we can strengthen ourselves in the LORD our God.

Lord, when David and his men return to find their city burned and their families carried off, and even his own men turn against him in their grief and speak of stoning him, David does a crucial thing in his utter distress: he strengthens himself in you, his God. David was greatly distressed, the account says, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were grieved; but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Everything had collapsed: his home destroyed, his family taken, his loyal men now turned against him, so that he was distressed and alone. And yet, in this depth of distress, David found strength not in himself or his circumstances, which offered none, but in you, his God. Show me how deep David's distress was, and where he found strength. Everything had gone wrong at once, and, in a final blow, his own men turned against him. He was distressed, bereaved, and now alone. There was no strength to be found in his circumstances or in the people who had turned on him. And yet David did not collapse into despair; he strengthened himself in you, his God. This is a crucial example for me. There are times when everything seems to collapse at once, when my circumstances offer no comfort, and even those I counted on turn against me or cannot help, so that I am distressed and alone. In such times, I can do what David did: strengthen myself in you, my God. When there is no strength to be found in my circumstances or in others, there is strength to be found in you, my refuge and strength. Take that to my heart, for I can strengthen myself in you even in the deepest distress. When everything collapses and I am distressed and alone, keep me from despair; help me strengthen myself in you, Lord, my God, as David did, turning to you, remembering your faithfulness, and finding in you the strength to go on that I cannot find elsewhere.