Sermon of the week

FAITH AND STRENGTH

 
“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.” 1 SA 30:6.
 
 
David's faith faltered.  In 1 SA 27:1 it says, “And David said in his heart, I 
shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me 
than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul 
shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I 
escape out of his hand.”  David had been anointed king; he knew he would be 
king, but look how his human reasoning came against him.  He had to run from the 
hand of Saul and ran into the land of the Philistines.  That was where he sought 
safety.  
 
But what happened to him in the land of the Philistines?  Ziklag was burned with 
fire.  The Lord used that fire to drive David out of the Philistine’s land. 
Right in the extremity of David’s life was the turning point when he became 
king.  When he left Ziklag he went to Hebron and was anointed king.  That was 
where the fulfillment of that impossible promise took place.  His own men had 
talked of stoning him, but in such extremity he turned back and strengthened 
himself in the Lord.  In 1 SA 30:6 we read, “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.”  
 
That was when David’s faith was restored: at the point of all human 
impossibility, when it became absolutely impossible and his own men had turned 
against him, he “encouraged himself in the LORD,” and He gave David supernatural 
strength.  He went in the strength of his faith.  We see in 1 SA 30:4, “Then 
David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until 
they had no more power to weep.”  David and his men had so worn themselves out 
that “they had no more power to weep.”  They were exasperated and at the end of 
their strength.  They had wept until “they had no more power to weep.”  
 
1 SA 30:10 says, “But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred 
abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.”  
Why did he go with four hundred instead of six hundred men?  Two hundred were so 
faint they were not able to cross the brook!  Stop and think about how David was 
so worn and weak, but then he went forth in supernatural strength.  He pursued 
them all that night. The next morning he came upon the camp where they had taken 
the spoil.  It says in 1 SA 30:17, “And David smote them from the twilight even 
unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four 
hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.”  After two hundred men 
were so faint that they could not cross the brook, David, with four hundred men, 
still traveled all night, came upon the army just at the break of day, and 
fought hand to hand for thirty-six hours!  See the absolute human 
impossibility.  See the supernatural strength the Lord gave David and those four 
hundred men and how they gained the victory and brought the spoil.  They went 
from there to Hebron where David became king.  
 
Do you see how the Lord brings us through such human impossibilities?  Faith was 
bright.  By faith, David had such strength, but when he fled from the land of 
Israel, he said, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.”  He was using 
human reasoning.  True faith is such a pillar and gives such strength that we 
can go where it is humanly impossible to go.  Amen.
 
I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
Trusting only Thee;
Trusting Thee for full salvation,
Great and free.
 
I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Every day and hour supplying 
All my need.
 
I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall;
I am trusting Thee for ever,
And for all.
Frances R. Havergal, 1874