I’m thinking the order is important. Not that it’s a law or anything . . . but as I read it,it jumped out at me as making sense . . . that the one should come before the other . . . that to do the other would be hard to do without the one. Seems to me it might be a good principle to adopt . . . strengthen and pray.

Wrapping up 1Samuel. And towards the end of the book David’s kind of living on the edge. He has determined the only way to ensure protection from Saul is to move deep into Philistine country. He forms a covert relationship with a guy named Achish. David presents himself and his men as mercenaries . . . done with Saul and his kingdom . . . ready to serve Achish and the enemies of Israel.

Achish sets them up in a town called Ziklag. In order to perpetuate his cover, David and his men raid “the inhabitants of the land from of old” (1Sam. 27:8), utterly destroy everyone, return with the spoils, and tell Achish they have laid waste to a city of Israel. Works great until Achish invites David and his men to join the forces of the Philistines to go head to head with Saul and his army.

David reports for duty . . . what else is he going to do? But the other Philistine leaders don’t trust David and tell Achish to send David and his men back to Ziklag. Lucky, huh? (Whose hand is all over that one? The God who moves the hearts and reasonings of pagan kings, that’s Who!)

But when David returns to Ziklag only to find that it has been raided and burned by the Amalekites . . . and all the women, and all the children, and all the livestock have been taken. Bad scene. Not only has he suffered great loss, but his men are ready to stone Him (30:1-6). And then I read this . . .

But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.”. So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the LORD.   (1Samuel 30:6b-8a ESV)

The bottom has fallen out of his world. His playing both sides of the fence has caught up with him. He dodges one bullet with the Philistines only to be nailed with a bat in the back of the head by the Amalekites. He’s reeling . . . his men are “bitter in soul” . . . what’s he going to do?

He strengthens himself in the LORD and then, he inquires of the Lord. Strengthen and pray . . . remember where your help comes from and then, lift your eyes to Him who made heaven and earth (Ps. 121:1-2) . . . quiet your heart enough to recall who has determined your steps (Prov. 16:9, Jer. 10:23) and then, cry out to the Lord for wisdom and direction . . . steel your heart and refocus on the all-sufficiency of God’s abundant grace and then, ask Him to make perfect His power in our weakness (2Cor. 12:9).

Too often, in unsettled times, I rush in panic to “911 heaven” . . . I’m prone to “Ready, Fire, Aim!” . . . rather than strengthen and pray.

O’, that by the presence and power of the Spirit’s inner working, I would always, especially in times of crisis, look up, be strong, and call out to Him who has promised never to leave me or forsake me.

By His grace . . . For His glory . . .