Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 27 and Psalm 73

“David thought to himself, ‘One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul.’” (v.1)

David’s desperate circumstances had moved him to a point of despair. He had become so discouraged that he forgot all of God’s past miracles of deliverance and decided that there was no better course of action than to go and seek refuge with the pagan Philistines. How tragic to see what the power of discouragement can accomplish. As a leader, David’s decision made from the pit of discouragement affected not only his own family but also the 600 men who followed him, and their families too.

Studying the book of Psalms we discover that while David lived in exile in the city of Gath and the town of Ziklag, he wrote no Psalms. Discouragement had separated him from the worship of God’s people and it had dried up David’s musical and lyrical inspiration too. Our consolation is that this exile lasted only a year and four months and shortly thereafter we discover that David returned to writing Psalms.

May we never allow ourselves to forget God’s past works in our lives. Difficult circumstances are inevitable in this fallen world, but even if our troubles blind us to God’s presence, love and power in the here and now, our past experiences of the saving power of God can always be a source of hope and confidence while the storms rage around us. Our part is to deliberately call to mind the ways God has saved and ministered to us in the past, and in so doing we will resist despair and discouragement, and we will strengthen ourselves in the Lord!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious ways You have worked to help, save, provide and deliver in the past. Holy Spirit, please always call to my mind the wonders of my Lord, and never allow me to grow so discouraged that I will seek any other refuge than the One True God, my Abba Father. Amen.