1 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.

Without a doubt, most everyone can draw a parallel of their own life to the vigorous life of David. I believe his imperfections are as vital to our instruction as his heralding moments in his life. If we allow, his moments of despair and redemption will inspire us and give us hope, that no matter how far we fall from the grace of God, he will hear the voice of the lamb that’s went astray.

I want to look at a specific time in David’s life that will indeed teach us a valuable lesson in our walk with God. From even before David was anointed King, he was a man after Gods own heart, and waited patiently upon The Lord for direction. Yet, David’s life took him to a level of despair he had never encountered when running from the hand of Saul. He went from seeking the counsel of God to making impetuous and irrational decisions and found himself residing with the enemy of The Lord, The Philistines. His lapse in sound judgement led him to finding a momentary safe haven with King Achish. David’s life spiraled into such calamity that he resulted in a web of deception leading King Achish to believe he was on their side. David removed himself from the righteousness of God and replaced it with a slippery slope of sin and despair.

Child of God, how many times have we seen this, either in our own life, or the life of dear saints we know. Maybe, we are walking on that slippery slope of deceit in the present moment. We wonder how in this world, we could find ourselves in such turmoil when not long ago all was well in our life. It starts with quenching the spirit of God in our life. We face many valley’s and tumultuous times in our life and in our moment of despair, we lose our focus, our Faith, and result in making haste decisions even at the cost of our own salvation. This is what sin does, it’s malignancy will override any sense of wisdom we can glean from God because we no longer look to the Heavens, but we look at the waves crashing in on us. This is where David found himself, his moment of desolation prevented him of divine direction from God. Through deception, King Achish has David marching into battle to fight the very people David was ordained to lead, oh how Sin takes us further than we intended on going, and keeps us longer than we wanted to stay.

This becomes a turning point which slowly brings David’s life back to the providence of God. God orchestrates the events, first when David marches toward battle with King Achish, the princes of The Philistines refuse to fight along side David in fear of him turning on them for his own people. David and his men then returned to their city of refuge, Ziglag only to find it in ruin and all their family had been taken by the Amalekites. This becomes the breaking point of his carnal mind, when David’s own loyal men threatened to stone him. This final blow ended Davids state of momentary desolation, for the mercies of God led him to that exact moment and he was reminded of the Psalms he had written, he was reminded where his true strength came from. He looked unto the hills from whence his help come from. David encouraged himself in The Lord and through this act The Lord was there to rescue his lamb that had wondered off.

There are times in our life when all hope seems lost and sometimes those dearest to our heart forsake us, we find ourself at the bottom of our despair and no place to look but Up. Sometimes, the only way God can get our attention is to cut our feet from under us, so we are forced to look Up! This is where we will see the divine providence of God, it had been there the entire time, but in our state of ignorance, we forgot! David shook himself, summoned the Ephod and called upon the name of The Lord for what his next step should be. We must be as David, when we realize we have stepped out of line, Stop, look up and call out for The Lord to lead you into the path of Righteousness. With the help of The Lord, David recovered all. When the hand of God is at work in our life, he will mend the broken pieces, heal the broken hearted, purge our transgressions, direct our path, redeem and restore us into his likeness. This, he will graciously perform, because he loves us and desires for all to make into Glory! Like David, we must remember God called us out of darkness and into his kingdom, We must never forget our purpose in life.

Crucial moments in our life will arise, when we must shake ourself, and look back to the old landmarks where God performed miracles, and his hand delivered us from the snares of the enemy. We must encourage ourself in The Lord, our spouse or loved one can’t do it, nor can our Pastor. It must be within our desire to lament for help when we go astray, and make no mistake, God will leave the ninety-nine to go after that one who has wondered from the flock. Much is to be admired about this story, because we see the true nature of God who restores those who’s heart resonates with his, such as David. Let us never forget where our help comes from.

PSALMS 121

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”