God's Sabbath

AD EEPER L ESSON

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David’s reaction was quite different from that of his men. He accepted the lesson God was trying to reveal and his trust in God, rather than self, increased. His courage was not a conse quence of a mighty stirring of feelings, but the result of review ing God’s previous dealing with them. “In this hour of utmost extremity David, instead of permit ting his mind to dwell upon these painful circumstances, looked earnestly to God for help. He ‘encouraged himself in the Lord.’ He reviewed his past eventful life. Wherein had the Lord ever forsaken him? His soul was refreshed in recalling the many evidences of God’s favor. The followers of David, by their discontent and impatience, made their affliction doubly griev ous; but the man of God, having even greater cause for grief, bore himself with fortitude. ‘What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee’ (Psalm 56:3), was the language of his heart. Though he himself could not discern a way out of the difficulty, God could see it, and would teach him what to do.” Patriarchs and Prophets 692.4. Consequently, he who had so often before relied upon his own resources to plan his escapes, this time remained steadfast in his loyalty to God as his Plan Maker and Problem Solver. He did everything exactly right and was rewarded with a wonderful vic tory over the enemy and the recovery of all his loved ones and those of his men. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, in cluding his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought ev erything back.” 1Samuel 30:18–19.

The Key to Success

What were the correct steps that David took at this trying time? •Firstly, he refused to permit his mind to dwell upon the forbidding circumstances. •Secondly, he looked earnestly to God for help. •Thirdly, by reviewing his own past life, and seeing how the Lord had never forsaken him, he “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 1Samuel 30:6 (KJV).