Be Independent and Dependent
Take a look at the time David and his army were away fighting a battle, and when they returned, they found that some enemies had entered their village and taken their wives, sons and daughters captive and burned the village. It's in 1 Sam. 30.
Obviously, this was devastating to everyone. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. (1 Sam 30:6)
We are observing the character of David, and notice that he is numbered with the men who cried until they were too weak to cry any more.
David's two wives were among those taken captive. But there was more to his grief: And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters…(1 Sam 6:6a)
So how did he handle it? …but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. (6b)
This shows me that he was independent and dependent at the same time. He was independent of his army as they all stood against him right then. That's the case with any leader. When everyone else is down (and down on you), you can't cling to them and sink with them. You still have to lead.
He was dependent on God. He encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Only when he was independent of everyone around him was he forced to be completely dependent on God, because that's all he had. And fortunately, God is enough. God is the ultimate source of strength, hope and courage.
He had to call to mind all that God is. He depended on God, and he did it alone. Fortunately for us, we know how David encouraged himself in God, because there are Psalms he wrote to show us. He talked to himself. Here are some of the things he said to himself:
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. (Ps 42:5)
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. (Ps 56:3-4)
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. (Ps 56:11)
David developed quite the testimony of depending on God. Remember, he was anointed by Samuel to be a king, but it was years before he became king. He waited for God to remove the current king, which was Saul. Remember how Saul chased him and wanted to kill him. Much of David’s adult life, he was running for his life. And in the midst of it, we have this story of his own army turning against him. But eventually, David was king and no one was chasing him. But he had developed a habit of depending on God. This is what he later wrote:
2Sa 22:1-7 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: (2) And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; (3) The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (4) I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. (5) When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; (6) The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; (7) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
David gave God all the credit for any emotional and physical strength he had. We should do the same.
All of 2 Samuel 22, David praises God. It’s a beautiful chapter in the Bible. “It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.” (22:48-49)