1Sam 30 Strengthen Yourself in the Lord your God  

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30:3 David and his men came to the city...burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive 

4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

I. Disasters can be sanctifying trials, satanic attacks, or self-inflicted, yet God works all for good to those who are loyal to Him

A. David (Goliath/Saul/Bathsheba/Absalom) seeking temporal power/security/pleasure-comfort, possessions over God's will, lost everything.

1Sam 22:5 the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold (Moab); depart, go to the land of Judah." So David departed

23:1 Philistines are robbing the threshing floors. 2 David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?"  

27:1 David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me. (Aligns, bodyguard, war w/Israel, excluded...)

30:7Then David said..Please bring the ephod here to me. 8 David inquired YHWH: Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" 

B. Awareness of our Hopelessness makes us aware of God's Helpfulness  Judges 16 Samson Ps 54:4 Behold YHWH is my Helper

II. Tragedies turn into triumphs when we Trust God's Traits/Revealed Character, Truth, and Track record (Biblical & Personal).

30:6 David was greatly distressed, spoke of stoning him, grieved/bitter. BUT David strengthened himself in YHWH his God.

A. Call to your God  Ps 142:1 I cry aloud to YHWH; I lift up my voice to YHWH for mercy. 2 I pour out before Him my complaint -/tell my trouble. 3 When my spirit grows faint, it is You who watch over my way..people..hidden snare 4 there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. 5 You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me..pursue me, are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me 'cse of your goodness to me.

Ps 138:3 the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.

B. Strengthen [take/grab hold; (harden; repair)] Yourself by embracing God's Traits (Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Hesed) 

Josh 1:9 commanded you? Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid, neither be dismayed: for YHWH God is with you where ever you go

Ps 27:14 Wait on YHWH be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! (cx Saul)

Ps 31:1 In You YHWH I have put my trust...22b I am cut off from before Your eyes. You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. 23 Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!  For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. 24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

Isa 41:9 you are my servant; I have chosen you, and not cast you away. 10 Fear not, for I am with you. Be not  dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'13 For I YHWH your God will strengthen right hand, saying to you, Fear not; I will help you. 

Nahum 1:7 YHWH is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He knows/cares for those who trust in him, Isa 26:4 Trust forever...strength

Neh 8:10 Joy of the Lord (delight in YHWH) is your strength  (Gladness is in proportion to our faith in the protection God gives)

III. Triumphant believers are Delivered from Difficulties and are Blessed as they faithfully seek and share God's blessings

30:7 David said to Abiathar the priest, Please bring the ephod here to me. 8 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."

A. Delivered from: breaking faith-Hashish; attacking Israel (killing Saul);  Saul and sons (death); separation from Philistines and exile

B. Blessed by: trusting and seeking God's will; aiding the Egyptian; regaining all (by destroying all); graciously sharing (men & elders; 

Spurgeon: the worst days I have ever had have turned out to be my best days, and when God has seemed most cruel to me he has then been most kind. If there is anything in this world for which I would bless Him more than for anything else it is for pain and affliction. I am sure that in these things the richest, tenderest love his been revealed towards me. I urge you, dear friends, if you are at this time very low, and greatly distressed, encourage yourselves in the abundant faithfulness of the God who hides himself. Our Father’s wagons rumble most heavily when they are bringing us the richest freight of the bullion of His grace. Love letters from heaven are often sent in black edged envelopes. The cloud that is black with horror is big with mercy. We may not ask for trouble, but if we were wise we should look upon it as the shadow of an unusually great blessing. Dread the calm, it is often treacherous, and beneath its wing the pestilence is lurking. Do not fear the storm, it brings healing in its wings, and when Jesus is with you in the vessel the tempest only hurries the ship to its desired haven.

Rm 8:28  we know that God works all things together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called acc to His purpose.

Rm 15:4...written before were written for our learning, that we thru endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures might have hope.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Does it take more faith to seek God's grace/help when we are blameless or when we have wrongly strayed from The Shepherd?

2. How has God delivered you in the past: from your sins, from your self (centeredness), from you unsanctified desires, from trials/people?

3. Why do you think David went from seeking God and His will to seeking security/comfort and his own will?

4. How have you been blessed thru difficulties in the past? Why are we tempted to not trust God? What's the alternative to trusting Him?

5. Do you view trials as (to be eschewed; endured; educational; punitive; pathway to blessing?)  How can you strenghtend yourself?