Courageous David

Introduction

I Samuel 30:6 “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.”

    When we read the above passage we can clearly understand how David was sorely afflicted. The plight of David was very depressing. Nevertheless, David encouraged himself and gained the amount of courage that he wanted. Even in our lives, we are given into circumstances which is full of temptations. As the children of God we should be bold enough to face our problems with the grace of God. When we are afflicted, we should never forget that the hands of our Lord is with us and it will guard us completely. We read in II Samuel 15:14 ‘And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.’ The situation of David is very worse as he was opposed by his own son. David was afflicted in all possible ways. As a part of today’s meditation let us discuss on how the hands of the Lord was with David and rescued him from danger.

Revelation

II Samuel 15:6 “And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”

II Samuel 15:13 “And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”

    We see in the 6th verse, that Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel. All these while the people were on David’s side and stood by him and now they flipped against his side. We read in II Samuel 15:14 ‘And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.’ Since the people have shifted from his side, we can understand the situation of David. The Lord reveals the true colors of the people to David. Even in our lives, we might trust a lot of people, we might have invested our hopes on them. But at the time of distress, there might be nobody to count on. When the Lord God is with us, he will reveal the right people and also the wrong ones in our lives. Whenever opportunity knocks our door, we should not be hasty. We should wait for the Lord in prayer and must act according to his will.

    In II Samuel 18:5,9 ‘And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.’ The above passages we read how the Lord fought for his servant David. Even in our lives, we should make it a point to love our enemies. No matter what they do, as the children of God we should show them the love of God. Our Lord will take care of the rest and he will fight for our cause.

Prayer

II Samuel 15:31 “And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

    Problems never seem to have left David as we can see Ahithophel a wise counselor becomes a conspirator to him. When David hears this news, he prays. David prays to the Lord God to make the counsel of Ahithophel to fail.

We read in II Samuel 17:4 ‘And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.’ We the Lord answers the prayer of David and fails the counsel of Ahithophel. Though David was abandoned by everyone, the hands of the Lord was with him. Further we read in II Samuel 15:32 ‘And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:’ When David’s wise counsellor Ahithophel abandones him, the Lord gives him Hushai. Even in our lives, we should never worry about the things that were lost. Our Lord God will restore his children multifold. Prayer is the key to acquire anything and everything.

Miracle

II Samuel 16:1 “And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.”

    Over here we see how the Lord almighty provides food for his servant David. David had nobody who could help him and to provide him food at that point of time. Our Lord God deals miraculously with David and meets his need. Though he was forsaken by many, the hands of the Lord never lets him go. We read in Psalm 23:5 ‘And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.’ As rightly recorded in this verse, we can see how the Lord commands a prosperity in drought. The miracle that the Lord works out makes David a courageous one.

Divine nature

II Samuel 16:5-6 “And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.”

    Here on the above passage we see Shimei curses David bitterly. Also, we see he pelts stones on him. But David was never vindictive and he holds his peace. David takes this situation to reveal his divine nature. He fully understands that everything happens according to the will of God. This act of his made the Shimei to regret on his behavior. Even in our lives, we might have a lot of chances to lose our cool but that will defile our divine nature. When we act wise like David, things will end in a different way. The Lord almighty will pitch in and he will take full control. Amen. God bless you.