David was at his wits’ end. Even his own men had turned against him. Yet he wasn’t at his faith’s end. Instead, David strengthened himself in the Lord.
What can we learn from David about how to strengthen ourselves in the Lord? What should we remember about God’s sovereignty, goodness, justice, and mercy? And how might God be using our challenges for good so that, as Romans 8.29 says, we can become more like Christ?
Welcome to “God’s Word Day by Day,” where I blog through the Bible in a Year. I hope you’ll join me every day. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here or subscribe and watch on YouTube.
Today’s Readings:
1 Samuel 29, 30 & 31
Psalm 61.5-8
Proverbs 16.7-9
John 3.18-36
When You’re at Your Wits’ End
1 Samuel 29, 30 & 31:
David’s Undivided Attention
What was David thinking? Did he really want to join the Philistines and go to war against Israel? We don’t know for sure. Perhaps he had another plan. But whatever David’s plan, God used the princes of the other Philistine clans to keep him from being put in that position.
And, either way, it appears God wanted to get David’s undivided attention. So while he was off involved in a situation he should never have been involved in, God allowed the Amalekites to burn down his city and carry off all the women and children, leaving David at his wits’ end.
With the steady flow of images on the news from Ukraine and the Middle East, it’s easy to imagine what David and his men must have seen and felt when they returned home.
Unmet Desires
God was going to allow them to recover their families and possessions, but David and his men didn’t know that. They came home tired and anxious to see their wives and children only to find the city burned and their families gone. After they wept over their losses, their emotions turned to anger against David.
Matthew Henry in his commentary on the Bible says they had joined David because they believed he would become king and they expected to all be princes by now. Instead, it looked like they had lost everything. Their grief was coupled with discontent, impatience, and disappointment over their unmet desires. To quote Henry, “Their own discontent and impatience added wormwood and gall to the affliction and misery, and made their case doubly grievous.”
And even after recovering everything, think about all the rebuilding that had to be done without modern equipment. Think about how their wives and children must have felt.
At His Wits’ End
David, on the other hand, demonstrated what made him “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13.14). While he was an imperfect man, once God had his attention, he knew how to repent and turn back to God. He didn’t turn on his men, point out their wrongs, or give in to fear over their threats. Instead, he “strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (30.6) and sought His counsel (30.7-8).
Perhaps he remembered God’s sovereignty, His goodness, and His justice. He almost surely cried out for God’s mercy.
To quote Henry once again, “When he was at his wits’ end, he was not at his faith’s end.”
And in the meantime, Saul and his three sons died in battle. David, even with all his shortcomings, was, indeed, about to become king.
[Tweet “”When you are at your wits’ end, you don’t need to be at your faith’s end.” #soulsurvival #faith”]How Did David Strengthen Himself in the Lord?
We don’t know specifically what David thought about during that time. But I imagine he reflected on all the times God had protected and provided for him. Maybe he thought about his years as a shepherd boy and how God gave him the strength to kill the bear and the lion. Or maybe he thought about the time he went up against Goliath, how God had given him victory in battle, and how God had protected him from Saul. Maybe he remembered how Samuel had anointed him and declared that he would be Israel’s next king.
Whatever he thought about, somehow, he strengthened or, as one translation says, encouraged himself in the Lord.
When You’re at Your Wits’ End
How can you strengthen yourself in the Lord?
You might ask yourself, how you have seen God move in the past? What testimonies have you heard? What stories have you read in the Bible?
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Rom. 15.4).
Genesis alone is packed with the stories of real-life people who struggled, sinned, were sinned against, and whose lives we can learn from. I wrote about many of those stories earlier this year as I went through Genesis. Go back through the January and February posts and choose one that speaks to you.
Memorize appropriate passages of Scripture. Talk to other believers who have walked through similar situations.
But whatever method or combination of things you do, get your eyes on God and not on your circumstances.
Here is a Sampling of January & February’s posts:
“When You Try Trusting God & Things Get Worse”
“Are You Sleeping with Frogs?”
“Leaving Family Traditions Behind”
[Tweet “When you’re at your wits’ end!” #faith #bible #biblestudy #soulsurvival”] [Tweet “How to encourage yourself in the Lord. #encouragement #God #bible #biblestudy #soulsurvival”]
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 61.5-8:
Vows and Promises
For You, O God, have heard my vows … (v. 5a).
God hears our vows and promises, whether they are made directly to Him or to someone else. God’s word says, “… let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment” (Jas. 5.12). That should be all the reason we need to be men and women of our word.
Proverbs 16.7-9:
God’s Plans
A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps (v. 9).
We make our plans, hopefully with God’s guidance, but just as it was with David, God is still in control and it’s His plans that will stand.
John 3.18-36:
Less of Us & More of Him
He must increase, but I must decrease (v. 30).
As his own ministry was winding down, John the Baptist was quick to point to the One about whom he preached. This should be our desire, as well. As we grow in our walk with the Lord, those around us should see more and more of Him and less and less of us!
[Tweet “”He must increase, but I must decrease.” #Jesus #soulsurvival”]What About You? Questions to Ponder or Journal:
What do you do when you’re at your wits’ end? Do you respond more like David or like his men?
How can you strengthen or encourage yourself in the Lord? What should you remember about God’s sovereignty, goodness, justice, and mercy? How might God be using this for good so that as Romans 8.29 says, you can become more like Christ? How can this help you to decrease so that He might increase?
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll look at how to respond to imperfect authority, discuss the cost of losing God’s restraining grace, and look at answers to life’s toughest questions. We’ll also talk about these questions: Do your kids know you LIKE them? And who is Jesus?
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out the latest videos on our YouTube channel.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
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