1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) Discouragement Not Necessary

1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) 
And David 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 for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

I was privileged to hear a wonderful message today, by Pastor Douglas Duffett, of Bible Baptist Church in Fairbanks, AK. Pastor Duffett’s message took us through David’s experience of serving under King Saul, through to this passage. After years of fleeing King Saul David, in 1 Samuel 27:1 (KJV) claims,
And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

At this time, David fled into Gath, the land of the Philistines. 

Pastor Duffett describes the spiral that led King David into Gath like this:

• Disappointment led to
• Doubt which led to
• Despair which led then to
• Discouragement finally leading to
• Depression

The point of the message was that David came finally to “encourage himself in the Lord.” He urges us in the message to do the same.[1]Pastor Duffett’s observations were very helpful. The Bible teaches us to be strong and of good courage. Discouragement is dangerous and not necessary if we will take steps to encourage ourselves in the Lord.

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[1]I am of the opinion that David’s decision to go into Gath may have been more at the behest of the Lord than of despair. What secret subterfuge God may have sent David to accomplish in Gath might be more than we can ever know while on the earth.

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1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) Discouragement Not Necessary

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