David Strengthened Himself in the Lord His God - Part Two

In Part One of this lesson we looked at how David “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”. How about us today? In times of trouble, do we follow David’s example? Consider a few thoughts along this line in dealing with our problems today. We face many problems, even as Christians. Some are related to family, or other matters of personal concern. Some are related to jobs, and the issue of financial security. In many cases, people try to tackle their problems alone. They leave God completely out of the picture. Sometimes they even forsake Him entirely.... By no longer praising Him and praying to Him daily. By neglecting the assembly in which we gather to edify one another and worship God. The reasoning is often expressed this way: “Let me get my life straight, then I will be able to serve God and live for Him.”

But God is angry if we seek to solve our problems without Him…! God considers such a person as cursed! - Jer 17:5-8 “Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."’ A good example of God’s displeasure when His people fail to look to Him for strength is found in Isaiah.... When attacked by Assyria, Israel placed her trust in Egypt - Isa 30:1-2 ‘"Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!” Because of this, God promised to frustrate the efforts of Israel to solve her problems by herself! - Isa 30:3 “Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.”; 31:1-3 “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.” Yes, God wanted Israel to trust in Him, not themselves - Isa 30:15-16 “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling, and you said, "No! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.”

Even so today, God wants us to put our trust in Him - Ja 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”; 1 Pe 5:6-7 “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” The truth of the matter is this, it is not “God helps those who help themselves”, but rather “God helps those who trust in the Lord with all their heart, and lean not on their own understanding”! - Pro 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” When we leave God out of the picture in solving problems one thing is certain: God leaves us to deal with those problems on our own, and without His help! Another thing is possible: In an act of loving discipline, God might frustrate our efforts to solve our problems independent of His help (He certainly disciplined Israel that way!)

So let us learn from one experienced in dealing with problems (David).... In times of trouble, look to the Lord for your strength! Trust in the Lord, and be steadfast in praising Him and praying to Him. Don’t forsake Him, nor forsake the assembly of the saints in which we draw near to Him. Let what David said of himself be true of us as well: “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.” - Psa 63:8. Remember that those who trust in God will find strength, deliverance, and true happiness! Do you trust in the Lord, or in your own strength? Let the Lord be your deliverance! Especially when it pertains to the problem of the guilt of sin...

David Strengthened Himself in the Lord His God

David Strengthened Himself in the Lord His God – Part One

1 Samuel 30:6 “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.”
What’s the first thing you do in times of trouble...? Everybody has problems from time to time, but not everyone tries to solve their problems in the same way. What is the best way? One person in the Bible who had more than his share of trouble was King David...
For example:
1) He was pursued by King Saul
2) He barely escaped several assassination attempts
3) He had to spend much time hiding in the wilderness
4) His entire family was kidnapped on one occasion
5) His friends turned against him and were ready to kill him
6) He suffered the shame of having committed adultery and murder
7) His son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar
8) His other son Absalom murdered Amnon
9) Absalom led a revolt against his father
10) Absalom himself was killed, much to David’s grief

Need I go on? David was certainly a man with many problems! Yet somehow, he survived them all and has come to be remembered as “a man after God’s own heart.” How was he able to do this...? I believe we can find the answer as we consider what David did when faced with one of his most serious problems, as recorded in 1 Sam 30:1-6...

Lets look at what David did in times of trouble as revealed in the context of - 1 Sam 30:1-6 “Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 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.”. At this time in his life, David was living in Ziklag. Having fled from King Saul and was now aligned with the Philistines. The Philistines were preparing to battle King Saul, and David and his men had gone to join with the Philistines. But the Philistines did not fully trust David, so they sent him and his men back to Ziklag.

Reading 1 Samuel 30:1-6, we find that the town of Ziklag had been attacked and burned by the Amalekites - 1 Sam 30:1. The women and children had been kidnapped, including those of his family - 1 Sam 30:2-5. Naturally David is distressed; but on top of this, the people are ready to kill him for not having been there when he was needed - 1 Sam 30:6. But notice carefully the last part of verse six. What does David do when he has lost his family, and his own life is threatened? The Scriptures say, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” This is what David did first in times of trouble.... He strengthened himself in the Lord his God! With the strength he received, he was then able to deal with whatever the problem was before him! But what does it mean to “strengthen himself in the Lord his God”? In an effort to answer this question, I found it helpful to consider some of the Psalms written by David during troublesome times...

In times of trouble David often composed Psalms. While pursued by Saul, he wrote Psalm 59 - Psa 59:1-4 “To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!” When imprisoned in Gath, he wrote Psalm 56 - Ps 56:1-2 “To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.” Fleeing from Absalom, he wrote Psalm 3 - Psa 3:1-2 “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah.” Hiding in the wilderness of Judah, he wrote Psalm 63 – verse 1 “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

From these Psalms, we can glean how “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”. From Psalm 56, we learn that David would place his trust in God to help him - Psa 56:3-4 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”, 9-11 “Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” From Psalm 59, we learn that David was determined to continue praising God for His help - Psa 59:16-17 “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” From Psalm 63, we see that David overcame his problem of loneliness by:
1) Seeking the Lord - Psa 63:1-2 “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.”
2) Praising and praying - Psa 63:3-5 “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,”
3) Meditating upon the Lord - Psa 63:6-7 “when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”

In each of these psalms, David is basically saying the same thing.... In time of trouble, put your trust in the Lord. Stay close to Him, through praising Him and praying to Him. Do this, and you will be made strong as the Lord supports you! - Psa 63:8 “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” This was how “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God”, and was able to face and overcome his problems with the help the Lord gave him.

How about us today? In times of trouble, do we follow David’s example? We will consider a few thoughts along this line in dealing with our problems today in Part Two of this lesson.

A Man after God's Own Heart - Part Two

We continue our lesson of looking at how we can have the same love for praise to God, unity of brethren, and a hatred for false ways as David and Jesus had, asking how we compare to being a person after God’s own heart.

In addition to the Word of God and prayer David loved to praise God. “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.” - Psa 119:164. He praised God because of His righteous judgments. He praised God because of His greatness and loving kindness - Psa 95:1-7 “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts,” And he was determined to sing praises as long as he lived - Psa 104:33 “I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.”

Jesus also loved to praise God. As He did on one occasion publicly in prayer - Mt 11:25-26 “At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” As He did with his disciples in song - Mt 26:30 “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

Do we Love to praise God …? Do we delight in singing praises to God in song? Do we take time to praise God in our prayers? Once again, David has words to encourage us in this activity - Psa 147:1 “Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” -- Thus it is becoming for those who profess to be children of God to praise their Heavenly Father!

We note also that David loved unity among brethren. “Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” - Psa 133:1. David knew the value of good friendship and unity, as exemplified in the relationship he had with Jonathan - 1 Sam 18:1 “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” He also knew the terrible pain of division within a family (for example his sons, Amnon and Absalom - see 2 Sam 13)

Jesus loved unity also. He prayed diligently that His disciples might be one - Jn 17:20-23 ‘"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” He died on the cross that there might be unity - Ep 2:13-16 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

Do we love unity enough to pay the price …? By diligently displaying the proper attitudes necessary to preserve the unity Christ has accomplished through His death? - Ep 4:1-3 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” By marking those who needlessly cause division? - Ro 16:17 “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”

Finally, we note that David hated every false way. “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” - Psa 119:104. His hatred was based upon his understanding of God’s precepts. His hatred affected his selection of activities and friends - Psa 101:3-4 “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.”, 6-7 “I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.”

Jesus also hated error and false ways as manifested in His driving the moneychangers out of the temple - Mt 21:12-13 “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."’ Manifested in His denunciation of the hypocritical Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers - Mt 23:13-36.

What is our attitude toward false ways ,,,? Are we soft or compromising? Or do we realize that we are involved in a “battle” over the souls of men, and do not think lightly of that which is false - 2 Co 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”. While we are to love the sinner, we must ever hate the sin!

In closing, we note that it was said concerning David that he was one “...who will do all My will.” - Ac 13:22. Because he was “a man after God’s own heart” and had all these attributes we have considered in this lesson God was confident that David would do all that God asked of him. Thus it requires all of the attributes to motivate one to be faithful to all that God may ask.... We have seen where Jesus possessed them, and He was certainly motivated to do the Father’s will - Jn 4:34 “Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”; Mt 26:42 “Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."’ How about us? Are we motivated to do *all* of God’s will? - Mt 7:21 ‘"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

A Man after God's Own Heart - Part One

1 Samuel 13:13-14

In Paul’s sermon at Antioch, in which he briefly recounts the history of Israel, he refers to the statement made by God concerning David:
“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” - Ac 13:22; 1 Sam 13:13-14 “And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."’ This beautiful compliment, “a man after My own heart”, is one that should characterize every person who wears the name of Christ.... For David was not only the ancestor of Christ according to the flesh but he possessed many of the attitudes that:
1) Were later perfected by Christ
2) Should characterize all those who are disciples of Christ
In this study we shall consider some of these attitudes that David had. We will see the similarities between his attitudes and those of Christ and encourage all who are Christians to have the same so that we too might be people “after God’s own heart”.

We begin, then, by noticing that David loved the Word of God. “Oh, how I love your law …” - Psa 119:97. In this psalm, if not written by David it certainly expresses his sentiment found elsewhere, where we find one who has a great love for God’s Word - Psa 119:47-48 “for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” This love for God’s Word is due to the fact that it protects him from sin - Psa 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” It revives him in affliction - Psa 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” It gives him great peace of mind - Psa 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

Jesus loved the Word of God, as is evident from His frequent quotation of it. Especially at the time of His temptation - Mt 4:4,7,10 “But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" – “Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" – “Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"

How is our love for the Word of God? Do we “hide” it in our heart? Do we find it to be a source of comfort in times of affliction? Does it give us peace of mind? If not, we should give heed to the instructions of David in Psa 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Learn to delight in the Word. Learn to meditate upon it daily -- Then will we be truly “blessed”!

We next see that David loved to pray. “I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” - Psa 116:1-2. His love for prayer was based upon the fact that God had answered him before - Psa 116:1-2. It was based upon the fact that God had greatly blessed him - Psa 116:12-13 “What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,” It was based upon the fact that prayer brought God close to him - Psa 145:18 “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Jesus was also a man of prayer. He made it a point to often slip away to pray privately - Lk 5:16 “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” In times of greatest trial, Jesus resorted to prayer.... At Gethsemane - Mt 26:36-44 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”
On the cross:
1) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” - Lk 23:34
2) “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” - Mt 27:46
3) “Father, into your hands I commend My Spirit.” - Lk 23:46

How is our love for prayer? Have we found it to be a source of peace “which surpasses all understanding”? - Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Do we “pray without ceasing”? - 1 Th 5:17 “pray without ceasing,” If not, let David instruct us to depend upon prayer for our very preservation - Psa 32:6-7 “Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah.”

We will continue this lesson in Part Two, noting some more comparisons of David and Jesus, and asking the question, “How is our love for …..”?