“And David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
– 1 Samuel 30:6
There’s a lot going on in this chapter that leads up to this verse and flows out of this verse. It’s a low point for sure in David’s life and other people’s lives who’ve lost sons and daughters in tragedy, and they are ready to stone David. And Verse 6 says it’s because they were bitter in soul. They were coming after David and Verse 6 says, “but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” What a powerful phrase. In the middle of a dark time, in the middle of a moment where David was at the end of himself, the Bible tells us David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Think about that phrase, to strengthen yourself in the Lord your God.
Dependent on the Strength of God
In those moments of your weakness, you will find the greatest strength because you are dependent on the strength that God provides.
This is exactly what Paul will later say in Philippians Chapter 4. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” or what Psalm 46 declares, “God is our refuge and strength and ever present help in trouble.” Or I think about 2 Corinthians Chapter 12, when God says to Paul in a vision, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power, my strength will be made perfect in your weakness.”
I don’t know what you’re walking through in your life right now. I’m guessing some of you, maybe many of you, feel weak, feel at the end of yourself, maybe even attacked by others who are coming after you. Whatever it might be to know that in any circumstance to use again, the language from Philippians 4, no matter what happens, you can find strength in the Lord your God.
In fact, in those moments of your weakness, you will find the greatest strength because you are dependent, not on yourself, but on the strength that God provides. And so I just want to pray that over you.
1 Samuel 30:6 Prays for God’s Power in Every Circumstance
God, I pray for Your strength over every single person listening right now, who feels weak in any way. Oh God, in light of circumstances they’re walking through, suffering, trial, attacks, even from others, whatever it might be. Lord, we pray, Lord, I pray that You would pour out Your strength on them, that they would know You are their refuge and strength today, even right now in this moment that they would know that You were an ever present help for them in trouble, that You are with them. They are not alone.
In the words You spoke to Joshua in Joshua 1, that they would be strong and courageous, knowing that You were with them, they would meditate on Your word, that they would live according to Your word. God, I pray that they would find strength in Your word, Your presence, Your love for them, and that You would, to continue from Philippians Chapter 4, supply all their needs according to the glorious riches that are theirs in Christ Jesus.
God, we praise You as our refuge and our strength. We praise You that when we are weak, You are strong. In Jesus’ name, we pray. According to 1 Samuel 30:6, strengthen us today. In You the Lord, our God, we pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
