How to Encourage Ourselves in the Lord
1 Samuel 30:1-18
DATE: 2 Oct, 2005 AM
PLACE: BBC Ballincollig
I. Introduction (1Sam 30:1-6a)
A. David has been running from king Saul for several years
B. He had been anointed to be the next king, but Saul refused to step down
C. So David has been a fugitive – on the run – constantly hiding from Saul’s army of men sent out to kill him
D. During that time, other men began to gather around David – he seemed to be an inspiration to them (1Sam 22:1,2). Notice their character:
1. Some were his family members
2. Also those in distress – under too much pressure
3. In debt – running from banks and creditors – could not pay in a million years
4. Discontented – couldn’t find joy or any reason to live until they heard of David
5. (That’s why David is like Jesus – we all come to Him for the same reasons!)
6. Some 600 men and their wives assemble around David over the months after his fleeing Jerusalem – 600 men! A small army for sure!
E. Those men and their families basically lived in a small village called Ziklag. That was where their families lived and played and grew
F. David and those 600 man had been away for a few days, and were returning home in 1 Samuel 30 – but not to find the village a buzz with kids and laughter and singing – but smouldering and burnt to rubble – everything was destroyed!
G. Another nation of marauders, called the Amalekites had attacked the village, and captured all the people, and then burned the village to the ground!
H. And here were some 600 men, tired, looking forward to some rest at home, but instead standing at the burned out gates of their village, and crying!
I. And then it happened – all at once – it hit them like a ton of bricks:
1. Forget the broken city walls and gates – forget the rubble-strewn streets and lanes – everyone that was dear was gone! Taken captive as slaves!
2. They had not known that the Amalekites were going to attack – or else they would have stayed around home
3. They had failed their families – they had lost their wives and their children – they had lost everything
4. And it hit them – and 600 grown, hardened men, began crying – bawling like babies – weeping, and wailing like they had never done before
J. And then anger swelled up in them – anger like they had never known either. Anger fierce enough to turn against their best of friends – David!
K. And they began to murmur, and slowly pick up stones and rocks, and began to circle around David who had become the focus of blame.
L. And in the midst of all that, David dropped to his knees, and closed his eyes, and did something miraculous – something beyond comprehension
M. He encouraged himself, in the Lord!
N. How? How could he even THINK straight in all that stress? But he did! And it is an example we all MUST follow if we are going to grow and get beyond the constant disappointments we seem to get bogged down in!
II. Message
A. He Remembered the Victories.
1. The small ones – against a bear and a lion while defending his few sheep
2. The big ones – defeating Goliath with a sling
3. If God saved your soul, got you on your knees and broken about your sin, and transformed your life – THAT IS A PRETTY GREAT VICTORY (over sin, death and HELL, AMEN!)
4. We keep such good track of all the disappointments, and the defeats – that’s all we seem to be able to talk about
a. The way things are changing for the worse
b. The loss of friends
c. Troubles in the home or on the job
d. Struggles with finances
5. It is FAR more important to keep track of the victories, of the answers to our prayers, of the goodness of God in your life
6. If you want to get encouraged, count your blessings, name them one by one!
a. The day God saved your soul and forgave all your sins
b. The prayer requests that GOD specifically answered
c. The provision of your needs
d. The day you got married to that wonderful person
e. The day your children were born
7. A mind that wastes its time on sorrow is a dying mind.
8. A mind that keeps its memories of good things fresh is a vibrant, and joyful mind – the kind of mind that NO DRUG CAN OFFER!
B. He Remembered His Calling.
1. David was quite content being a shepherd boy – called to be a shepherd – a good calling – Daddy called him to be one!
2. Then God drew him close and called him to be a KING (1Sam 16:10-13) instead of all his bigger and better looking brothers
3. David never got over the fact that God had a job for him to do
a. Yes, his ultimate calling was to be king over all of Israel, but not today
b. His calling was to lead these 600 men and their families
c. His calling was to lead them as a spiritual man, not an angry man
d. His calling was to help them get their families back, not quibble and argue and take revenge on each other!
4. There was a day when David came to the realisation that God calls each of us to do great things and to take on the Goliaths because there is a GREAT GOAL to accomplish (1Sam 17:29)
5. Those words “Is there not a cause?” rang in his ears that evening, and encouraged him – there were 600 reasons for getting encouraged – 600 causes to be a part of fixing and helping!
6. God calls everyone:
a. First to repent and believe the Gospel
b. Then to follow His Son Jesus Christ – follow and obey Him and be like Him
c. Then God calls everyone to do what He has made us able to do (Eph 4:11,12) that’s why God gave pastors – to help Christians find what God made them to do, and then help them DO IT!
d. Saul of Tarsus had a great calling (Acts 9; 1Tim 1:12) – never got over it
7. No matter what God has called you to do, it is great, and it will encourage you greatly to sit down and remember how great the task is He has for you to do
a. To be a Mom and a Dad is one of the greatest callings and responsibilities
b. To be a pastor or missionary is unbeatable – greater than prime minister or president
c. To teach a Sunday School class is an awesome calling
d. To go out and faithfully soul-win is a calling
e. Not everyone answers these callings unfortunately, but that makes people even MORE depressed!
f. Did you know staying single is a calling of God?
g. Did you know there is NO ONE that has nothing to do for God? We were made to please Him (Rev 4:11)
h. Fulfil that calling and you will stay always encouraged!
C. He Remembered Who Was Leaning On Him – Relying on Him (1Sam 30:5,6)
1. 600 men were looking at David – they needed direction, leadership – not defeatism – not fatalism – not
2. His own family – yes two wives, and several children so far
3. And then there were all their families – no hope without SOMEONE acting and taking action
4. David could not waste his time wallowing in self-pity – people’s lives were at stake (including his won with all those stones aimed at him)!
5. Sometimes we need to be reminded of who is watching us, and looking up to us, and leaning on us, and needing us to do right and believe God, and trust God, and take action
a. Your kids, your wife
b. Your co-workers are watching to see if you are for real – not that you won’t have bad days and troubles, but that you will win the victory anyway
c. Your extended families may hate you, but they may not listen to anyone else give them the Gospel if you don’t
6. Folks – that’s why we have to take our Christian life and our Christian testimony seriously – people’s eternities rest on it!
D. He Remembered His God (1Sam 30:6b)
1. Notice David didn’t just encourage himself – not a self-help meditation here
2. David remembered the Lord
a. Remembered His name (Ps 20:7; Act 4:11)
b. Remembered His mighty deeds – that’s why God wrote the Bible – to remind us of how great He is – so people wouldn’t forget what GOD can do – no matter how impossible the situation
3. He reminded Himself that God is still on the throne, in charge, and busy working all things together for good
4. Oh that we would not live like God is dead because He is VERY alive (Job declared in his darkest hour, “I know that my redeemer liveth!”)
E. He Remembered How to Pray (1Sam 30:7,8)
1. Before David did anything, it was vital to bring God into the situation
2. What a truth!
3. Pray folks – not a set, prepared prayer, but a prayer from the heart for
a. Strength
b. Wisdom
c. Direction
d. Clarity of mind
e. Confession of sin if need be
f. PRAY
4. Even with 600 men ready to stone him, David knew it was more important to pray and get God’s orders and God’s promise of victory
F. He Remembered How to Fight (1Sam 30:9-18)
1. He Fought Cunningly (1Sam 30:9)
a. Didn’t wait for the morning – took right off – the element of surprise
b. Followed them – found out which way they had gone
c. Prepared to win back every home and every family and every piece of life that had been stolen by the Amalekites
d. This was no haphazard/frivolous effort
e. No! he aimed to win this fight
2. He Fought Consistently (1Sam 30:9,10)
a. Started with 600 men
b. 200 were too tired after just a few miles
c. Down to 400 men
d. But David pressed on anyway
e. He was a consistent fighter (1Tim 6:12; 2Tim 4:7)
f. Even if NO ONE went with him, he was going to stay in the fight
g. Didn’t gripe about the 200 being too tired, and staying behind
h. Just pressed on (Philp 3:13,14)
3. He Fought Compassionately (1Sam 30:11-15)
a. Found this Egyptian and took care of him
b. Discovered that this man they were helping was the key to finding the Amalekites
c. God will do that you know – wait for you to be a blessing before he shows you the key to winning a battle in your life
d. David could have had a slash and burn approach – a scorched earth policy – just kill everyone in his path, but he didn’t
4. He Fought Completely (1Sam 30:16-18)
a. Took on a complete army with just 400 men
b. But these 400 men were so encouraged by the time they found the Amalekites, they couldn’t be stopped – they couldn’t BUT win!
c. David led the battle all that night – didn’t leave it to someone else to do the fighting – David got the credit for that victory that night
d. Because David was so encouraged, he could fight and win so completely
e. The same will be true for you and me
III. Conclusions and Applications
A. Remember the Victories.
1. The small ones – against a bear and a lion while defending his few sheep
2. The big ones – defeating Goliath with a sling
3. If God saved your soul, got you on your knees and broken about your sin, and transformed your life – THAT IS A PRETTY GREAT VICTORY (over sin, death and HELL, AMEN!)
4. Quit keeing track of all the disappointments, and the defeats – that’s all we seem to be able to talk about
5. It is FAR more important to keep track of the victories, of the answers to our prayers, of the goodness of God in your life
6. If you want to get encouraged, count your blessings, name them one by one!
a. The day God saved your soul and forgave all your sins
b. The prayer requests that GOD specifically answered
c. The provision of your needs
d. The day you got married to that wonderful person
e. The day your children were born
7. A mind that wastes its time on sorrow is a dying mind.
8. A mind that keeps its memories of good things fresh is a vibrant, and joyful mind – the kind of mind that NO DRUG CAN OFFER!
B. Remember Your Calling.
1. “Is there not a cause?” should ring in your ears
2. God calls everyone:
a. First to repent and believe the Gospel
b. Then to follow His Son Jesus Christ – follow and obey Him and be like Him
c. Then God calls everyone to do what He has made us able to do (Eph 4:11,12) that’s why God gave pastors – to help Christians find what God made them to do, and then help them DO IT!
d. Saul of Tarsus had a great calling (Acts 9; 1Tim 1:12) – never got over it
3. No matter what God has called you to do, it is great, and it will encourage you greatly to sit down and remember how great the task is He has for you to do
a. To be a Mom and a Dad is one of the greatest callings and responsibilities
b. To be a pastor or missionary is unbeatable – greater than prime minister or president
c. To teach a Sunday School class is an awesome calling
d. To go out and faithfully soul-win is a calling
e. Not everyone answers these callings unfortunately, but that makes people even MORE depressed!
f. Did you know staying single is a calling of God?
g. Did you know there is NO ONE that has nothing to do for God? We were made to please Him (Rev 4:11)
h. Fulfil that calling and you will stay always encouraged!
C. Remember Who is Leaning On You – who is looking to you for leadership?
1. Your kids, your wife
2. Your co-workers
3. Your extended families
4. Folks – that’s why we have to take our Christian life and our Christian testimony seriously – people’s eternities rest on it!
D. Remember Your God
1. Remember His name – the Promise Keeper
2. Remember His mighty deeds – He has never failed
3. Remember that God is still on the throne, in charge, and busy working all things together for good
E. Remember How to Pray (1Sam 30:7,8)
1. Pray from the heart for: Strength, Wisdom, Direction, Clarity of mind, Confession of sin if need be.
2. I don’t care how busy you are, or how bad the situation is, it is more important to pray and get God’s orders and God’s promise of victory
F. Remember How to Fight – Jesus taught us well (2Co 10:4,5)
1. Fight Cunningly – wise as serpents
2. Fight Consistently – quit being on again, off again kind of Christians
3. Fight Compassionately – care about PEOPLE along your way
4. Fight Completely – stay at it until the battle, every battle is won for Christ
G. Starts with the new birth though (John 3:7) and with commitment to following our Great King, Jesus
Craig Ledbetter
Ireland