I. DAVID LOVED THE WORD OF GOD
A. "OH, HOW I LOVE YOUR LAW!" - Ps 119:97
1. In this psalm, if not written by David it certainly expresses
his sentiment found elsewhere, we find one who has a great
love for God's Word - cf. Ps 119:47-48
2. This love for God's Word is due to the fact that...
a. It protects him from sin - Ps 119:11
b. It revives him in affliction - Ps 119:50
c. It gives him great peace of mind - Ps 119:165
II. DAVID LOVED TO PRAY
A. "I WILL CALL UPON HIM AS LONG AS I LIVE" - Ps 116:1-2
1. His love for prayer was based upon the fact God had answered
him before - Ps 116:1-2
2. It was based upon the fact that God had greatly blessed him
- Ps 116:12-13
3. It was based upon the fact that prayer brought God close to
him - Ps 145:18
III. DAVID LOVED TO PRAISE GOD
A. "SEVEN TIMES A DAY I PRAISE YOU" - Ps 119:164
1. He praised God because of His righteous judgments
2. He praised God because of His greatness and lovingkindness
- Ps 95:1-7
3. And he was determined to sing praises as long as he lived
- Ps 104:33
IV. DAVID LOVED UNITY AMONG BRETHREN
A. "BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS..." - Ps 133:1
1. David knew the value of good friendship and unity, as
exemplified in the relationship he had with Jonathan - 1 Sam 18:1
2. He also knew the terrible pain of division within a family
(cf. his sons, Amnon and Absalom - 2Sa 13)
V. DAVID HATED EVERY FALSE WAY
A. "I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY" - Ps 119:104
1. His hatred was based upon his understanding of God's precepts
- cf. Ps 119:104
2. His hatred affected his selection of activities and friends
- cf. Ps 101:3-4,6-7
in heaven. (Mt 7:21)
"DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD"
1 Samuel 30:6
INTRODUCTION
1. What's the first thing you do in time of trouble?
a. Everybody has problems from time to time, but not everyone tries
to solve their problems in the same way
b. What IS the best way?
2. One person in the Bible who had more than his share of trouble was
King David...
a. For example:
1) He was pursued by King Saul
2) He barely escaped several assassination attempts
3) He had to spend much time hiding in the wilderness
4) His entire family was kidnapped on one occasion
5) His friends turned against him and were ready to kill him
6) He suffered the shame of having committed adultery and murder
7) His son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar
8) His other son Absalom murdered Amnon
9) Absalom led a revolt against his father
10) Absalom himself was killed, much to David's grief
b. Need I go on? David was certainly a man with many problems!
3. Yet somehow, he survived them all and has come to be remembered as
"a man after God's own heart." How was he able to do this?
[I believe we can find the answer as we consider what David did when
faced with one of his most serious problems, as recorded in 1Sa 30: 1-6...]
I. WHAT DAVID DID IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
A. THE CONTEXT OF 1 SAMUEL 30:1-6...
1. At this time in his life, David was living in Ziklag
a. Having fled from King Saul
b. And was now aligned with the Philistines
2. The Philistines were preparing to battle King Saul, and David
and his men had gone to join with the Philistines
3. But the Philistines did not fully trust David, so they sent
him and his men back to Ziklag
B. READING 1 SAMUEL 30:1-6, WE FIND...
1. That the town of Ziklag had been attacked and burned by the
Amalekites - 1
2. The women and children had been kidnapped, including those of
his family - 2-5
3. Naturally David is distressed; but on top of this, the people
are ready to kill him for not having been there when he was
needed - 6
C. BUT NOTICE CAREFULLY THE LAST PART OF VERSE SIX...
1. What does David do when he has lost his family, and his own life is threatened?
2. The Scriptures say, "But David strengthened himself in the
Lord his God."
3. This is what David did first in times of trouble...
a. He strengthened himself in the Lord his God!
b. With the strength he received, he was then able to deal
with whatever the problem was before him!
[But what does it mean to "strengthen himself in the Lord his God"? In
an effort to answer this question, I found it helpful to consider some
of the Psalms written by David during troublesome times...]
HOW DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD
A. IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, DAVID OFTEN COMPOSED PSALMS...
1. While pursued by Saul, he wrote Psalm 59 - cf. Ps 59:1-4
2. When imprisoned in Gath, he wrote Psalm 56 - cf. Ps 56:1-2
3. Fleeing from Absalom, he wrote Psalm 3 - cf. Ps 3:1-2
4. Hiding in the wilderness of Judah, he wrote Psalm 63
B. FROM THESE PSALMS, WE CAN GLEAN HOW "DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF
IN THE LORD HIS GOD"...
1. From Psalm 56, we learn that David would place his trust in
God to help him - Ps 56:3-4,9-11
2. From Psalm 59, we learn that David was determined to continue
praising God for His help - Ps 59:16-17
3. From Psalm 63, we see that David overcame his problem of
loneliness by...
a. Seeking the Lord - Ps 63:1-2
b. Praising and praying - Ps 63:3-5
c. Meditating upon the Lord - Ps 63:6-7
4. In each of these psalms, David is basically saying the same
thing...
a. In time of trouble, put your trust in the Lord
b. Stay close to Him, through praising Him and praying to Him
c. Do this, and you will be made strong as the Lord supports
you! - cf. Ps 63:8
[This was how "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God", and was
able to face and overcome his problems with the help the Lord gave him.
CONCLUSION
1. So let us learn from one experienced in dealing with problems
(David)...
a. In times of trouble, look to the Lord for your strength!
b. Trust in the Lord, and be steadfast in praising Him and praying
to Him
c. Don't forsake Him, nor forsake the assembly of the saints in
which we draw near to Him
2. Let what David said of himself be true of us as well:
"My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me."
(Ps 63:8)
3. Remember that those who trust in God will find strength,
deliverance, and true happiness!
Do you trust in the Lord? Or in your own strength? Let the Lord be
your strength