-David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God- (1Samuel 30:6)
Hey Neighbor!

Sometimes We need to take a moment to ponder and meditate on the Awesomeness and Faithfulness of God!!
And as We remember and Reflect on God’s Goodness, We too will find Ourselves, like David, ‘Encouraged in The Lord.’
Here’s David’s Story…
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OH, how David’s faith in God must have been shaken. He was greatly distressed. He was now King Saul’s most wanted enemy!!
You see, Saul viewed David as a threat to his throne and as a potential claimant to the throne- David was to be immediately exterminated.
Saul wanted David- Dead or Alive!!
David had been dejected by the Israelite armies and had now foolishly defected to the Philistine Armies, under King, Achish.
But King Achish’s sons refused to permit David to fight in the battle against his former comrades, fearing that, during the heat of battle, David would have a change of heart, and would return and begin to fight in favor of his first love- Israel!!
And so David was sent away, back to his town of refuge- Ziklag.
Upon his return, David was astounded to find his home and lands had been burned to the ground and all of his possessions had been taken, including his wives and children!!
Verse 30:4 tells Us that David and his men were devastated. They fell to the ground, grieving in bitter sorrow…and they weeped and weeped…until they had no strength left.
Here, We find David in a mental, emotional, and spiritual pit…And just when David believed that all had been lost, except for his Mighty Men, his ‘faithful friends’ in times of trouble- his ‘ride or die comrades’ – They had also turned against David and were now threatening to stone him!!
Why??
Well, David’s men had decided that David was to blame for this devastating tragedy.
After all, it was David’s foolish idea to abandon the wives and the children, leaving them helpless and unprotected in Ziklag, and to go and fight along side Israel’s enemies, on the wrong side of a war.
So David finds himself in a state of confusion, mourning his own loss but also stressed-out, and overwhelmed with fear and guilt for his comrades’ losses.
But David had learned not to count God Out!!
David begins to remember God’s Faithful Feats!!
David remembered that God had given him victory over the nearly 10ft Giant, Goliath!!
David remembered how God had caused him to evade and escape from King Saul’s javelin!!
David remembered that God had given him 600 trustworthy companions to protect him and and to serve with him!!
Unfortunately, It was these same trusted 600 who were now threatening to kill him!!
Now as David was reflecting on How God had always been present and active during his toughest trials – having never forgotten him nor forsaken him- David realized that his sorrow had begun to subside, his head wasn’t hung quite so low…
He also noticed that his soul was no longer so downcast!!
And as David continued to meditate and ponder on God’s marvelous works- He found himself ‘Encouraged in the Lord!’
So David returned to himself with a renewed hope in God!!
David sought the Lord in Prayer, asking Him for guidance and instruction.
And God Answered David!!
God told David to pursue the troop that had burned Ziklag – Reassuring David that He and His comrades would recover absolutely everything!!
God said, Go! And Surely, You Shall Recover All.
-David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelechās son, I pray you, bring me the ephod. And Abiathar brought him the ephod. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? The Lord answered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all-
(1 Samuel 30:7-8)
Take the time this week to Read Through 1 Samuel 27-30 and ‘Encourage Yourself in the Lord.’
Thanks For Stopping By!!
Don’t Forget Tomorrow is Trivia Thursday!!
So until then-
God Loves šYou and So Do I!!
-Tam
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