"And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." Do you ever feel like your problems are overtaking you? You think you may have more problems than other people! And why doesn't God work out your problems when you've been faithful and prayed for a resolution? Learn a lesson about problem-solving from David. Saul, the king of Israel and his army pursued David all over Israel to kill him because Saul was jealous of David. David had to live in the desert and in caves to avoid being caught. Every time he went into a town someone reported it to Saul. He had no food to eat and had an army of followers and their families to feed, so he had to take consecrated food from the priests of the tabernacle to feed his followers. Then he was ordered to go fight another king's war and while he was on this mission his town was raided and his family and the families of his followers were kidnapped by another enemy. Upon returning to his hometown his loyal followers were so aggravated with him that they considered killing him. And remember that all this was happening to a guy that knew God had called him to be the next king of Israel. Do you suppose he ever questioned God about why all these bad things were happening to him when he was anointed as the next king? We know he despaired at times from some of the Psalms he wrote; however, the way he handled it here was that he strengthened himself in the Lord. Rather than despairing, David turned to God in prayer and worship and I'm sure that God comforted and sustained him. God didn't take David's problems away; He just changed David's perspective about his problems:
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4).
