How do you handle the heat?
Early in David’s path to the throne he displayed the characteristics that would establish him as a great king. 1 Samuel 30 tells us upon returning from raiding the enemy he found his hometown destroyed, burned with fire, his two wives as well as his sons and daughters all taken captive.
1 Sam. 30:6 “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….”
That’s a bad day...
But it got worse, because everyone blamed him. And they were so mad they started a campaign to kill David!
How do you handle that kind of heat? Pressure from inside (you’ve lost your town, home, and family), and pressure from outside (your own troops want to kill you).
How do you recover from that? Where do you go?
David went straight to the Lord.
1 Sam. 30:6 …. “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
That word “strengthened” is interesting. It means to “be strong, to take hold of.”
What did David take hold of? What did he hold on to? “The Lord his God.”
What does that look like?
From David’s Psalms we read that David frequently gained strength and perspective by looking back on God’s faithfulness. At other times he gained strength by looking forward to God’s far reaching sovereign plan. Both are legit.
How about us?
Where do we turn when we face the heat?
Where we turn for help will play a large part in defining who we become. Saul turned to a witch. David turned to “the Lord his God.” Let’s all agree to put down the chips and ice cream and pick up God’s Word. I think we’ll all find God’s past faithfulness can provide a hopeful perspective for the future we face.
Enjoy Walking with the Savior Today, Pastor John
