Find Hope When Everything Is Against You

1 Samuel 30:1-6 NIV 

[1] David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, [2] and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. [3] When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. [4] So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. [5] David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. [6] David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.30.1-6.NIV)

Have you ever been in a situation where nothing seemed to go right for you? Where it felt, as one senior boss described it to me, as if you were in the wrong movie? 

I have. 

Around eight years ago I was made redundant from a company where I had worked for eleven years. It was not easy at all, but I left there with my head held high. I managed to secure a new role right away. And this looked brilliant – on paper anyway. It was with a much respected and globally recognised educational establishment. It was direct and permanent. The department was an essential part of the organisation’s fabric, so there was less chance of it getting cut. The terms and conditions were favourable. It was heavily unionised and the pension package was the best I had ever seen. 

When I heard I has got the job, I was elated. 

And then it all went sour. 

Really sour. 

I struggled with the job. I struggled with the people. I struggled with the culture. 

I left before I was dismissed. 

Now, when you have to take a decision like that as a single person, it’s tough. But when you are a member of a family, it’s much tougher. You have people who are depending on you, who are counting on you, and you have that deadening feeling that you are letting them down as much as yourself. 

I got another job six months later, but my brief period working for that organisation was one of the single toughest times I have experienced anywhere – and that includes being made redundant. 

David here was in a tough spot – a tougher spot than any of us are likely to experience.  

He was on the run from King Saul, who wanted him dead (1 Samuel 19:11-17, 20:30-33).

Despite having spared Saul’s life twice (1 Samuel 24, 25), he knew Israel was not safe for him or his men. 

So where else would David take refuge from Saul’s murderous intentions than in the territory of Saul's enemies (1 Samuel 27:1-4)? 

And that’s where we pick up the story. David has fled to the city of Gath of Philistia – coincidentally the home town of Goliath, the first Philistine he killed (1 Samuel 17:4). The king of the Philistines had assigned him and his men a small town to live in (1 Samuel 27:5-6). David was engaged in a form of cat and mouse with the Philistines, where they raided other enemies of Israel and lied about their actions to the Philistine king (1 Samuel 27:8-12). 

It seemed that David had it all worked out, that his little ruse was working. 

Until it all went really horribly wrong. 

Let’s look, then, at The Challenge He Faced. 

The Challenge He Faced 

1 Samuel 28:1-2 NIV 

[1] In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.” [2] David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.” Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.28.1-2.NIV)

1 Samuel 29:1-7 NIV 

[1] The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. [2] As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. [3] The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” [4] But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? [5] Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “ ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” [6] So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. [7] Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.” 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.29.1-7.NIV)

Once my wife and I got engaged, we spent pretty much every day keeping a close eye on the immigration requirements so that we could bring her to Scotland. We thought we knew what we had to do. We thought the target was fixed and if we aimed for it then we would be home and dry. 

And then it changed. 

Many, many families have been caught out by similar changes. Some are even stuck overseas. 

We got over ours, but it caused a whole lot of stress. 

Changing situations often catch us out. 

Certainly that was how it was for David. Look what the Philistine king’s impression of him was: 

1 Samuel 27:12 NIV 

[12] Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.” 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.27.12.NIV)

He thought that he had captured a prize warrior from a nation who had turned against him. 

The Philistine commanders however, saw a potential trap: 

1 Samuel 29:4-5 NIV 

[4] But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? [5] Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “ ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.29.4-5.NIV)

They had sussed out that a change in loyalties could cause David his men to betray them and defeat them from the inside. They were convinced that turning against his Philistine host would ingratiate David to Saul and they were having none of it. 

And so David did not line up for battle with the Philistines against Saul. Instead, he and his men were sent back to Ziklag (1 Samuel 29:6-11). 

But here is where things really take a turn for the worst. 

The Amalekites were among the peoples David’s men had been raiding (1 Samuel 27:8-9). They had clearly identified the source of these painful raids and, while the Philistines’ attention was on Saul, attacked and destroyed Ziklag in revenge, taking David’s men’s families captive (1 Samuel 30:1-2). 

It stands to reason that David’s men were very upset about this: 

1 Samuel 30:3-4 NIV 

[3] When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. [4] So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.30.3-4.NIV)

His loyal men, who had stuck with him through thick and thin, were grieving so much that they talked of stoning David (1 Samuel 30:6). 

On the run. In a foreign land. Kicked off the front line. Raided by those he had raided. Their town destroyed. Their families taken captive. 

Very few of us would ever face a challenge this great. 

While we won’t be able to relate to much of this situation – and should probably be very grateful that this is the case – there are elements that are quite similar to the challenges we face. Fickle human opinions. Decisions rebounding on us. The loss of family, friends and even houses. Feeling isolated and alone in a foreign country. 

These are all very trying circumstances. 

That’s why studying apparently obscure events in the Bible can yield tremendous truths and encouragements. 

That is what we will see as we move on from the challenge David faced to The Hope He Found. 

The Hope He Found 

1 Samuel 30:6 NIV 

[6] David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.30.6.NIV)

In the northern Vietnamese city of Hanoi there is a Buddhist temple with a unique claim to fame: it rests on a single stone pillar. There is no other piece of historical Buddhist architecture, or even any other comparable building, that can lay the same claim. 

Here we see that David is surrounded by a huge amount of drama. Most of us would struggle with one of these pillars going missing in our lives, but David had all of them, and all at the same time! 

His family were gone. They had been kidnapped. 

His home was gone. It had been destroyed. 

His city was gone – there was nothing left of it but ruins. 

His reputation and standing was gone – the loss of his status with the Philistine king would surely put the safe haven he and his men enjoyed at risk. 

His job was gone. He could no longer serve as the king’s bodyguard. 

His decision-making was deeply in question. Even his men were talking about killing him! 

This really was a desperate state of affairs. 

Ordinarily, when someone experiences such an awful situation, we would expect them to collapse like a pack of cards. The only thing David had left was his health, and that was also at risk. 

But not David. 

He found strength and certainty in his God. This was not the first time he would do it, and it certainly would not be his last: 

Psalms 27:1 NIV 

[1] The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.27.1.NIV)

Psalms 56:4 NIV 

[4] In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.56.4.NIV)

Psalms 59:9-10 NIV 

[9] You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, [10] my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.59.9-10.NIV)

David had lost so many of the pillars and foundations on which we build our lives, yet even with all of them gone he still found strength. The reason why is as simple as it is profound: 

His life was founded on God, not anything else. 

And this is what makes all the difference. 

Believe it or not, there are actually entire cities around the world that are sinking because they are built on porous clay. And we aren't talking about minor, small, ‘pretend’ cities. Among the more famous names are Amsterdam, Bangkok, Mexico City, Venice. Billions are being spent to somehow keep these cities from sinking to the point where they are no longer liveable. 

Isn’t that what happens with our lives? They sink because we are built on shaky, porous foundations that cannot support us. Those foundations collapse under the weight of our existence. We then spend billions on counselling, therapy, medication or even illegal means of coping just to survive. 

Yet here is the simple solution: find your strength in God. Build your life on Him: 

Psalms 18:2 NIV 

[2] The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.18.2.NIV)

Isaiah 33:5-6 NIV 

[5] The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. [6] He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.33.5-6.NIV)

Obey Him. Live by His precepts. Demonstrate that you truly do believe in Him (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49). 

This is what makes the difference. This is what makes you strong and resilient.

Psalms 125:1 NIV 

[1] Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.125.1.NIV)

David found himself in an impossible situation. He found his strength in God. 

Will you? 

So we have seen the challenge David faced – and it was a very significant one. We’ve seen the strength he found even when every other source was gone. 

But the story doesn’t end there. We will now go on to see The Battle He Won. 

The Battle He Won 

1 Samuel 30:16-20 NIV 

[16] He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. [17] David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. [18] David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. [19] Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. [20] He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.” 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.30.16-20.NIV)

Have you ever faced a significant challenge where you thought your chances of success were small, but there was somehow a breakthrough? 

We had it last year, in one of the most exhausting nights we have ever known. My wife’s father had died. We needed to get home for the funeral. 

Now, anyone who had tried to book flights to Asia will know that they can be incredibly expensive at the last minute. That’s why savvy travellers book ten to eleven months in advance. 

We were expecting prices to be so high that we would not make it. 

We tried multiple sites and carriers. Everything was just beyond expensive. 

Then there was one airline. Their flights were almost fifty percent more than we would normally pay, but other airlines were charging many multiples of it. We checked their flight times. They worked. And so, from a situation which looked completely impossible, all three of us were able to fly to the Philippines to say goodbye to my wife’s father. 

And the icing on the cake? Our fares were covered by someone else. 

That night we saw the Lord on our side. 

These verses are quite remarkable. Here we see a number of separate deliverance that show how much God was on their side. 

Firstly, we see hospitality.  

1 Samuel 30:11-15 NIV 

[11] They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— [12] part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights. [13] David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?” He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. [14] We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.” [15] David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?” He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.” 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.30.11-15.NIV)

Despite their fraught emotional state, David and his men show hospitality to an Egyptian man wandering in the desert. That act of kindness is repaid with a critical piece of intelligence that leads them to precisely where the raiding Amalekites are. 

There is a lesson here. Even when everything else is taken from us, we should never sacrifice kindness. 

Secondly, we see victory. 

David and his men are no match for these celebrating, and perhaps a little tipsy, Amalekites.  

That, again, was a great provision. Consider for a moment all that David and his men had been through. They still had enough energy to win the victory. 

Thirdly, we see integrity. 

1 Samuel 30:18-19 NIV 

[18] David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. [19] Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.30.18-19.NIV)

Nothing and no-one were missing. David and his men were miraculously able to recover everything they lost. Not one man, woman or child was killed. Not one belonging was destroyed. 

Given the situation, this was remarkable. 

I want you to see the key lesson here.

Situations when we are cornered with no way out are the most terrifying. It’s clear to see that we are no longer control. 

But God is. God always is. There is never a moment when He is not in control. 

We might fear losing everything. We might wonder why we should bother fighting on. We might be ready to curse God, our leaders and anyone else who got us into the awful situation. 

But everything turned for David when he found strength in his God. Whatever you are facing, see what David did, turn from your fear and pain and find your strength in Him too. 

You will gain far more than you could ever lose. 

Conclusion 

1 Samuel 30:6 NIV 

[6] David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.30.6.NIV)

Maybe it’s my ever increasing age, but I am an enormous fan of nature walks. My family always went on them when we were children. Partly because we were too poor to fly abroad. Partly because we badly needed the fresh air and the open spaces. Partly because the time my sister jumped in what she thought was mud and it turned out to be something left behind by a cow will never be forgotten. 

But mostly because getting away from the stresses and strains of life and decompressing in the sound of leaves rustling and water flowing has a tremendous healing effect. It brings perspective. It lets us know that no matter what our modern life throws at us, the world is still turning.

But it doesn’t solve our problems. 

Don’t get me wrong: I love walking in the woodland near our home. Really love it. But when I emerge from the peace and quiet, I'm thrown back into everyday life. 

We don’t need an analgesic against the pain; we need an end to it. 

That’s where David’s solution is a stroke of genius. 

He was facing a serious challenge. No-one could doubt that. But he found hope and the strength to continue by doing something Jesus told His disciples to do much later on: 

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV 

[28]  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.11.28-30.NIV)

And Peter too: 

1 Peter 5:7 NIV 

[7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.5.7.NIV)

Which could explain why David himself could also write these words: 

Psalms 55:22 NIV 

[22] Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.55.22.NIV)

David’s victory began not when he stood up to fight, but when he dropped to his knees to pray. The burden was raised from his shoulders because he gave it to the Lord. And he gave it to the Lord because it was too heavy to carry. 

That’s why Peter also wrote these words: 

1 Peter 5:6 NIV 

[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.5.6.NIV)

Could our doom-laden perspective be due to fact our situation is too much for us, but is never too much for God? 

There are times in life when it seems like nothing is going your way and everything seems to be against you. Those are the times when you are tempted to despair and give in. 

Don’t. 

Everything may have been against David, but one thing was in his favour, and that one thing was enough. 

Never count God out. 

Never. 

Because while you are still breathing there is still hope. 

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, forgive my despair when I seem to be confronted with unfavourable odds. I know that You can sway any situation in my favour. I trust in You. Lift the burden from my back. Grant me clarity of thought and of vision. Help me find a way out where now I see none. Amen. 

Questions for Contemplation 

• What situations were against David? How would you have coped with this? 

• What did he do that made the difference? How would you do this? 

• What was the outcome? How can you apply this to your situation?