WHAT TO DO IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE
(August 2006)
OPENING TEXT: (Psalm 50:15).
The Lord says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Are you living in the day of trouble? Do you feel discouraged, distressed, depressed? Are you weary? Feel like giving up? If so, then I have good news for you today!
Jesus said, “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (John 16:33, The Message).
THE DAY OF TROUBLE PART ONE:
“1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." 9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor… (1 Samuel 30:1-10).
BACKGROUND TO THE DAY OF TROUBLE:
v.1-2 - the city Ziklag was attacked and burned and the women and children were taken captive
v.3 - David and his men came to the city, weary from 3 days journey
v.4 - David and his men cried and wept loudly until they had no strength left
v.6 “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
How did the people respond to the day of trouble?
- David was distressed
- The people were grieved and cast blame and spoke of stoning David
- (BIG) BUT: David strengthened himself in the Lord his God
- How do YOU respond when you’re in trouble?
1. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD!
- Don’t get distressed, grieved, blame others.
- Sometimes when you go through trouble, you don’t have people to encourage you.
- “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.” (Psalm 42:5).
2. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, CALL UPON GOD.
v.8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop?”
- God said, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
- David knew the encouraging truth of Psalm 50:15. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
- David also wrote: “1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:1-3).
- Same theme: Call to the Lord in your trouble, He will deliver you, you will glorify Him!
3. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, RISE UP AND RUN!
v.9-10 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.
- David did not stay at home and have a little pity party. He pursued. If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have recovered all.
- David did not go alone – he had 600 men with him. We need one another in the fight!
- Sometimes in the day of trouble people get weary, and we need to fight for them!
THE DAY OF TROUBLE PART TWO:
16 And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. 18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. 20 Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, "This is David’s spoil." (1 Samuel 30:16-21).
4. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, THE ENEMY WANTS TO REJOICE OVER YOU.
- v.16 – the enemy was celebrating (drinking & dancing) their victory
- Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come to bring you life.”
- Remember Micah’s words: “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” (Micah 7:8).
5. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, YOU MUST FIGHT.
v. 17 Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day.
- Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7).
- No one ever said that the Christian life was easy – we’re in a spiritual war!
6. IF YOU’RE WILLING TO FIGHT IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, YOU WILL WIN.
v.18 So David recovered all.
- Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
- Romans 8:37 says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
- What is a conqueror? Someone who defeats or subdues by force.
- We are overcomers. That means we defeat another in conflict.
- We have victory in Jesus. Victory is the defeat of an enemy or opponent.
- There is no victorious, overcoming, more than conquering life if we don’t FIGHT!
THE DAY OF TROUBLE PART THREE:
21 Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart." 23 But David said, "My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24 For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike." 25 So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.” (1 Samuel 30:16-25).
7. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, HAVE COMPASSION FOR ONE ANOTHER!
- If you’ve gained the victory, don’t be content to keep it to yourself – share with others!
- Husbands and fathers – fight for your families! Students – fight for your friends!
CLOSING TEXT: (Psalm 50:15).
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Are you in trouble? Call upon the Lord – He will deliver you – then you can glorify Him!
