The Heart of Encouragement

Our last look at the characteristics of David is possible because David was an avid writer. That's probably one reason why I enjoy learning about him so much. He may have written for his own personal reasons, but his writing became a ministry as he was inspired by God. He wrote prophetically, poetically and inspirationally. At the time he wrote, writing wasn't his main ministry. He ruled the Jewish nation, after all. But his writing is his legacy, and it ministers today.

So, back to this last characteristic. I've hit on it before. He encouraged himself in God. He wrote many of the Psalms, and fortunately for us, we know what was going on his life when he wrote some of them, because the Bible tells us.

He wrote some of his best Psalms when he was going through very hard times, as when he was running from Saul and when he was running from his son Absolum. David wrote his prayers to God, and we get to read them and see just how he encouraged himself in God.  

In one instance, as David was on the run from Saul, David learned that someone had told Saul where he was. In that desparate situation, he wrote Psa 52:7-9:  Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.  (8)  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.  (9)  I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

See how his mind and his prayer went from rehearsing his plight to choosing to trust in God's mercy, wait on his name and promising to praise God forever? We can choose to encourage ourselves in God, too. Just remember anything about God.

There was another time when David found out that someone had told Saul where he was hiding. Look at Psa. 54:1-7  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.  (2)  Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.  (3)  For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.  (4)  Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.  (5)  He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.  (6)  I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.  (7)  For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

David was obviously inspired to write this. I find it interesting that in the same sentence he promised to freely sacrifice to God, he said he would praise God's good name. That must have been his sacrifice. And that's a lesson in how to encourage ourselves in God. Offer a sacrifice of praise.

Here's a Psalm he wrote when hiding from Saul in the cave: Psa. 142:1-7  Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.  (2)  I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.  (3)  When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.  (4)  I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.  (5)  I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  (6)  Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.  (7)  Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Think on that one all day. One reason we know David wrote Ps. 119 is because some of the very words and ideas mentioned there come through in places like this. David acknowledged his persecutors here, as he often did in Ps. 119. David asked for deliverance from his persecutors so he could praise God's name. It was for God's glory he prayed for deliverance. We looked at that before.

We could look at so many examples of how David encouraged himself in God. Another great one is Ps. 63. He was running from Absolum here. Take the time to read it. It's full of perspective we need to absorb.

While we're done looking at David's life, we aren't done reading his writings. We will begin looking at prophetic Psalms next.