Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar;

I Samuel 30:6: “And Dave 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 his daughters but David encouraged himself in the Lord.”

We all know  this story.  David returns with his few followers after trying to join the Philistine army. While away from  home the Amalekites overran David’s small community and took all their wives, children and possessions.  David’s loyal followers were not impressed.

David was “distressed.”  The word in the Hebrew is “yasar.”  The word yasar has the idea of mind and imagination.  David is suffering extreme mental distress.  Keep in mind it is more than just his own gizzard that has him down.  His own family is being held captive, not to mention that David is a leader and his people, his friends, those who were loyal to him when no one else would be are deeply grieved.  That is really a lot of weight to bear.

This had to be a real downer for David, can’t get much lower (ok, maybe a few years later when his son kicks him off the throne).  So what do you do?  Well, you pray, you cry out to God.  That is not what David did.  According to verse 6 he “encouraged himself” in the Lord.  The word is  “yithechazek.”   This is in a Hithpael form.  It is reflexive.  He took it upon himself to encourage himself – in Jehovah, his God.  This word is from the root “chazek” which means to strengthen, but this is a strengthening like becoming a rock.  Maybe it is a play on words as my study partner suggest, after all is about to be stoned so he becomes  rock.

In a sense that is what David did.  This word “chazek” means he joined himself with God, began involved with God by consecrating himself to God.  The “qof” at the end of this word suggest something circular,  David’s imagination (yasar)  was running wild.  He took hold of his imagination and directed it to God.  He let God encircle his imagination.

Here is something to think about.  David drew very close to God at that moment. He should have clearly heard God’s voice.  Yet, he used the ephod to inquire of the Lord. He did not “yithechazek” himself with the Lord to get a solution to his problem.  He did it to find rest for his soul.

A real problem hits us and what do we do.  I usually go into my “O Lord, O Lord, O Lord” routine. My first thought is to resolve my problem and God seems to be the only one available to lend a hand. David just stood before God and rested in his presence.  He did not run to God to solve his problem, he ran to God to find His peace.   David’s first thought was God. My first thought is usually my own gizzard. Maybe next time the roof falls in I will try to first think of God, His love, His faithfulness and find my rest and peace in Him.  Once that is restored, then God and I can address the issue.

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