When a Godly Man Grieves

          It is very significant that the Psalms express every emotion felt by the human heart, and yet were all written by men. Many of those psalms were penned by David. If ever a man’s heart was put out on display for the encouragement of other men, it was his. This morning, his example gave me a lot of hope.

          It all began with these words: “I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name…”[1]As I considered this wonder, that Jesus knows where a man lives, how much trouble he gets from Satan, and whether he is holding on to his relationship with Christ, I remembered how David had set an example of this kind of thing three thousand years ago.

          On that occasion, David and his six hundred men returned to their hometown to discover that an enemy had swept in, captured their families and possessions, and left their town a smoking ruin. The response of these valiant soldiers is described like this: “Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.”[2]Obviously, these men had never been taught that there was anything wrong with men having feelings.

          After the men had poured out their grief together, including David grieving with them in the loss of his family, the men realized that someone had to be blamed for what happened. Why were they away from their families? Because David was leading them into battle. It was David’s fault!

          So, while David was still grieving because of the loss he shared with his men, this is what happened next: “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.”[3]This is of special concern because of the reason these men initially joined David. Much earlier we read: “And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them.”[4] First these men came to David for help because they were bitter in soul, and now they wanted to kill him because they were bitter in soul. Many pastors must know what that feels like!

          David’s response to this death-threat was: “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”[5] Instead of playing the victim, or trying to appease his men, David turned to God for strength. This made all the difference to what happened next.

          While David was strengthening himself in his relationship with God, we are told that, “…David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?’”[6] This showed David’s heart. He neither despaired, nor took things into his own hands. He went to God for strength, and when he was strengthened, he relied on God to know what to do.

          God assured David that he could lead his men into battle, and God would give him the victory. In other words, God revealed his will in the matter. Here are the action-words that describe what happened: “So David set out…”[7] When God’s men hear God’s will they set out to do it. That led to: “…David pursued…”[8] God told him he would have success in getting all the families back, so David joined God in his work by pursuing the enemy.

          Then we read: “And David struck them down…”[9] God promised victory, so David fought the enemy in that confidence. This led to: “David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken…”[10] His men who had earlier wanted to kill David for causing their trouble, now celebrated that they had banded together to bring their families home.

          Today, God’s men do not have the assurance of protection from human enemies, but we do have the possibility of protection from something even greater, our spiritual enemy. The book of Revelation refers to Satan as “the red dragon”,[11] and adds that he is “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.”[12] This enemy of our souls can do more damage to our families and friends than any human army because he can ruin lives for eternity.

          With the encouragement of, “I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name…”[13]and the example of David reminding us of how to walk in strong faith in Christ, God’s men can have a profound influence on liberating people from bondage to the evil one. Holding fast to Christ is one side. Putting on the whole armor of God and taking our stand against the evil one is the other.[14] The more God’s men unite to do this, the more victories we will see.

          From my heart,

          Monte

 

© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)

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[1] Revelation 2:13

[2] I Samuel 30:4

[3] I Samuel 30:6

[4] I Samuel 22:2

[5] I Samuel 30:6

[6] I Samuel 30:8

[7] I Samuel 30:9

[8] I Samuel 30:10

[9] I Samuel 30:17

[10] I Samuel 30:18

[11] Revelation 12:2

[12] Revelation 12:9

[13] Revelation 2:13

[14] Ephesians 6:10-20