ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

1 Samuel 30:6 KJV (WS)

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

“I Am Attacking!”

We are told that just before the first battle of the Marne in the first World War, Marshal Foch, the great French General, reported: “My centre is giving; my left wing is retreating; the situation is excellent; I am attacking!”

This was not mere military ranting, for the Marshal realized that apparent defeat could be turned into victory by acting with resolution and swiftness and speed at the very moment when the enemy seemed to be triumphant.

—Dr. Harry A. Ironside

David was burdened with some big troubles.

But his conduct in these troublesome times brought him deliverance.

We as the body of Christ can learn much from this dark event of David’s life.

FIRST LOOK AT—THE DISTRESS OF DAVID

Distress - extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain:

“David was greatly distressed”

It had not been a good day for David.

His problems seemed to pile up on each other.

He had good reason for being distressed.

We note four reasons.

• The dismissal from the Philistine army.

Earlier in the day he and his followers had been dismissed from the Philistine army which was preparing for attack upon Israel.

The dismissal was very humbling for David. But it was also very good for David, though he did not realize it then.

• The destruction of his home in Ziklag.

When he and his followers returned to their home in Ziklag, they discovered the Amalekites had invaded the place, destroyed it and taken captive all their families and for all David and his supporters knew, the Amalekites had killed the family members.

1 Samuel 30:3–5 KJV (WS)

So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

• The danger of being stoned.

His supporters were an unhappy bunch and spoke of “stoning him” because of what happened at Ziklag while they were gone.

One can easily understand their attitude.

• The despair in his supporters.

David had a heart for his supporters who had come to him when he was rejected and being pursued by King Saul.

Yet, in following him, it looked like they lost it all. David had much to distress him.

No wonder Scripture says he was “greatly distressed.”

SECOND—THE DELIVERANCE OF DAVID

“But David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

David’s action here brought him deliverance.

He did not do what many folk would have done today, namely, go to drinking and get drunk and try to drown his troubles in booze.

David turned to the God for help.

Encouraging himself in the Lord involves at least three things.

• Looking to God.

David turned to God for help.

If you leave God out of your life, you will not solve any troubles but only magnify them.

Turning to God involves praise for God as well as prayer to God.

• Leading of God.

David sought God’s direction and then followed it.

He could have avoided many of his problems had he sought the leading of God earlier.

Let us seek His leading all the time.

• Living for God.

David obeyed God when God told him what to do. Obedience is the way we should order our lifestyle.

As a result of this obedience, David was led to the camp of the Amalekites, destroyed them, and got all the families back.

God knows how to get us out of trouble if we would only listen to Him.

1 Samuel 30:8 KJV (WS)

And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.