David was in great danger, for the people spoke of stoning him because all the people were bitter in spirit for their sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
There are times when it seems like everything is against you. When all friends seem to say nothing but a discouraging word. And other times when you are indeed up against it with whatever trouble is facing you. We can so easily slip into discouragement.
David was more than up against it since the families of the men who were going out with David were taken away while they were on one of their expeditions. And they had had enough with David, understandably so given the circumstances. David must have been quite down over that himself and add to that the responsibility of being the leader who arguably got them in this trouble.
But God helped David. But not before David by faith somehow strengthened himself in God. It doesn’t tell us how. God has to do the strengthening and give the needed encouragement or at least peace. But we have to open ourselves up to that, seeking God and waiting on God. And then David took needed action, seeking God and God’s will through the priest, and ultimately all the loved ones were delivered.
God can and will do the same for us as we look to God during such times. In and through Jesus.