Many things can be learned from King David. Among them is the ability to encourage ourselves in the Lord. The setting is one of joy that David and his men have been relieved of any obligation to Achish, king of Gath. David had sought refuge from Saul in the land of the Philistines twice. The first time (1 Samuel 21:10), the servants of Achish spake against David; and, in fear of what might happen, David “feigned himself mad” in their hands. Achish speaks as though his servants had been foolish to bring David to him and dismisses David, saying, “Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence?”
However, David’s second effort at finding refuge from Saul among Achish of Gath proves successful (1 Samuel 27:1). David was given the city of Zigzag by Achish as a place in which to dwell. It came to pass that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish informs David, “Thou shalt go with me to battle, thou and thy men” (1 Samuel 28:1). After the objection of the princes of the Philistines to the presence of David, he and his men are dismissed. Their travel home had to be a joyous journey. They were relieved from any appearance of fighting against their own people. But their mood will soon change.
It was the third day. They had returned to their wives and their children, only to have found them gone and the city burned. Amalekites had invaded the south. All the women, with the children, were taken captive. All of their possessions were either burned or plundered. The frustration they had felt among the Philistines, though relieved for a few days, now bursts with this apparent judgment from God. All of them lift up their voice in unison and weep until there is no more power to weep (1 Samuel 30:4).
David’s distress could be described as the greatest: for the people spake of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved. But, David did something. In his distress, he cried out to the Lord! He took the ephod, a sleeveless garment worn by the priests who had been slain by Doeg at the command of Saul (1 Samuel 22:18-20). And David inquired of the Lord!
To whom do we turn midst our distress? How do we encourage ourselves in the depths of despair? We must learn to turn to the One who has saved us by his own blood, the One who has placed his Spirit within us. He has given to us promises he will not, he cannot deny!
“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even unto his ears” (Psalm 18:8). He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).