David Encouraged Himself in the Lord

In this precious paragraph is exemplified the character we will need in the future.  When we find ourselves with every human support cut off, we will do well to remember how David got the victory:  did not look to his circumstances, but rather reminded himself of the many evidences of God's favour in his past, and even though he could not see any way out of the mess he was in, he looked earnestly to God for help, trusting that God could see the way out and teach him what to do.  How often am I like the men around David, by dwelling on the circumstances, and looking to the resources within myself for a way out - become discontent and impatient and make my affliction "doubly grievous".  I pray that I will learn these lessons now in times of relative peace and safety, that I will act this way in the future time of trouble.

David seemed to be cut off from every human support. All that he held dear on earth had been swept from him. Saul had driven him from his country; the Philistines had driven him from the camp; the Amalekites had plundered his city; his wives and children had been made prisoners; and his own familiar friends had banded against him, and threatened him even with death. In this hour of utmost extremity David, instead of permitting his mind to dwell upon these painful circumstances, looked earnestly to God for help. He “encouraged himself in the Lord.” He reviewed his past eventful life. Wherein had the Lord ever forsaken him? His soul was refreshed in recalling the many evidences of God’s favor. The followers of David, by their discontent and impatience, made their affliction doubly grievous; but the man of God, having even greater cause for grief, bore himself with fortitude. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” (Psalm 56:3), was the language of his heart. Though he himself could not discern a way out of the difficulty, God could see it, and would teach him what to do. {PP 692.4}