Originally posted: 12/17/2019
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God, (30:6).
Things are not going so well for David. On the run and unable to defend his people, he returns home to discover his entire city has been ransacked, burned to the ground and every man’s family members have been taken captive
When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive, (30:3).
The grief is too much to bear and the strain of despair depletes them of all strength.
Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep, (30:4).
Can you imagine the scene? The brave warriors utterly consumed in their pain, and as David also laments the loss of his own family, he faces the beginnings of an embittered mutiny.
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, (30:6).
But rather than cave under the mounting pressure or attempt to retaliate or rectify the matter in his own weakened state, David turns to the One he personally and intimately knows as his God, as his only source for Strength. David turns to Him Who Is Our Strength.
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God, (30:6).
Consider Him Who Is Our Strength
- He Is Our Strength in Betrayal.
- David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him… (30:6).
- He Is Our Strength in Bitterness.
- …for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters, (30:6).
- He Is Our Strength in Battle.
- David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all,” (30:8).
- David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all,” (30:8).
- He Is Our Strength in Benevolence.
- Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23 Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. 24 And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” 25 So it has been from that day forward… (30:22-25).
How do we respond to Him Who Is Our Strength?
David knew God personally, he knew the LORD as his God, and was convinced in His ability to provide… David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
- We too must know Him personally, as the LORD our God, through faith in His Son.
- For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, (1 Peter 3:18).
- When we know God, through His Son, we can come to Him in faith, convinced He will supply every need.
- And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 4:19).
- May we grow to become like David, who strengthened himself in the Lord his God. When faced with betrayal, bitterness and battles, or when tempted to withhold the benevolence of mercy and kindness, may we too strengthen ourselves in Him Who is Our Strength.
- I can do all things through Him who strengthens me, (Philippians 4:13).