Faint-Painted

1 Samuel 30:6

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

What can turn us fade and make us faint? It’s lunchtime and so first in mind is hunger. Survival sites say being underfed for even just one day can already cause disorientation, poor judgment and confusion. I can’t imagine how the political prisoners in Ireland endured 73 days :<  Extreme physical activity can also be draining. One man in Minnesota celebrated his 30^th birthday by logging a 24-hour treadmill session. World record has 48 hours. I can’t even run in four. Severe stress due to work pressure and family demands can be damaging too.  In Tokyo, one man killed himself a day after completing a 17-month, no-day-off project. Now that’s a scary thought for all unpaid and unappreciated mothers who work 24/7.  

David in today’s chapter was all painted with faint. He who is most wanted in Israel is also unwanted even by the Philistines. Coming home from the pull out, still exhausted from their three-day trip, he found the city burned and all their wives, children and goods taken by the Amalekites. It’s why working moms sigh when they see their homes messy and the kids smelly and there’s still dinner to prepare and husband to attend to. Multiply that weight and we’ll understand why David and his six hundred mighty warriors wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. Now here’s the unexpected blow: ‘In their distress, his men talked about stoning him’. Oh please! Not now! But David kept his calm. He did not defend himself or gave a snappy backtalk. Verse six says ‘He found his strength in the Lord his God.’ A friend posted a John Piper quote the other day which may help us draw David’s thought balloon here: ‘The song of everyone who comes to Christ: I will never live alone again. Never.’ He chose meekness in the midst of madness, and trusted God for this trial.

There will be times we don’t have the luxury of explaining to everyone what we’re going through. That today is just not the best time for an added insult or an unkind word or a cold face. I wish I can make my kids stop asking their endless whys when I’m working. Or not return a call and hear another burden when we’re too loaded ourselves. As a leader, David did not give in to that excuse. He needs to be strong for them and finding none within, he went up to the Source. No wonder he became an inspiration not just to his men, but to great prophets as well. Isaiah and Habakkuk painted God’s strength as soaring like eagles and having hind’s feet - - the same words used by our psalmist here. We will sure grow tired and faint, again. But in Christ, we will not just be refreshed, but renewed. Not just repaired, but restored. His paint never runs dry :>