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. 1 Samuel 30:6
As David’s men came closer
to Ziglag they saw an unsettling sight—pillars of smoke were rising from the
camp. For some time, David’s army of 600 mighty men and their families had been
living in Ziglag as a temporary shelter. David’s fighting force had just
returned from a confrontation with the Philistines only to discover that in their
absence a band of marauders viciously attacked the camp. Homes were pillaged
and burned. The women and children were taken captive. In the aftermath, all
they could do was sit in the charred rubble and cry.
In this moment of
distress, David has no other option but to turn to God. Jonathan is nowhere to
be found, his men are on the verge of mutiny, Samuel is dead. What do you do
when you reach the bottom and there is no one around to help you? Upon a first
glace this verse seems quite odd, doesn’t it? How exactly does one encourage
him or herself in the Lord?
It was more than just a five-minute
devotional. I believe that David reflected on all that God had done for him.
David thought of how many times God had provided and pulled him out of a tight
spot. David encouraged himself in the Lord by rehearsing God’s character. He
worshiped in the rubble.
In times like these, God’s
people must learn to do what David did. In my experience there are at least
three ways we can “encourage ourselves in the Lord.” First, there is Scripture.
The Word of God is filled with stories that remind us how God met people’s
needs, and if He did it for them He will do it for us. Second, there is song.
When life falls apart, we can take comfort in the hymns of the faith. A song
can raise your spirits and help you realize that everything’s going to be OK. Third,
there is solitude. We all need quiet, reflective moments where we get
away from the busyness and distractions of life. It’s in the silence we can
hear the voice of God.
I came across a modern example
of “encouraging yourself in the Lord” that brought a smile to my face and a
tear to my eye. It happened near Chattanooga, TN during a local news broadcast.
On top of all the COVID-19
shutdowns, that area of the country received a double whammy in the form of devastating
F-3 tornadoes. The reporter was standing near the rubble of the Faith Community
Wesleyan Church when his broadcast was interrupted by something sacred.
A lady, Tracy Coats, was
driving by the church and saw the piano in the ruins of the church. She stopped,
got out of her vehicle and started playing to the Lord. What a sight as the familiar
tune of “Because He Lives” came from the heap of timber.[1]
(click here to watch the video)
-DM
[1] Shannen
Sharpe, “Woman Sees Piano in the Rubble at Chattanooga Church, Decides It Needs
to Be Played,” ABC NEWS CHANNEL 9, 15
April 2020 <https://newschannel9.com/news/local/woman-sees-piano-in-the-rubble-at-chattanooga-church-decides-it-needs-to-be-played>
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