LIFE IN THE STRONGHOLD

LIFE IN THE STRONGHOLD

Life in the stronghold was about learning how to survive from one day to the next. How would you begin to live in a situation where you had absolutely nothing you could depend on – except God? In this life, there was nothing or no one else, only God and His voice in the wilderness.  Surviving was about knowing God was always there. It was about understanding that He was always near and ready to help. Life in the stronghold depended on God providing a way when there seemed to be no way.

We all have our times to spend in the strongholds. These are places in our lives where we are forced into simply sitting still and quiet until we hear the voice of God telling us what to do next. Often in these strongholds we tend to think we are hitting dead ends. There seems to be nowhere else to go. However, God is teaching us, though we can’t see it at the time. I think of the words of the scripture found in 1 Kings 19:12 that say, “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” Many translations use the words “after the fire came a still small voice.”

I recently read an article describing the meaning behind those words that speak of a “still small voice.” Here is the link: https://www.1517.org/articles/getting-the-still-small-voice-all-wrong. Notice the true translations of the Hebrew in this scripture passage. Find out who that REAL still small voice is. Seek out what He is speaking out to you in your own stronghold.

WHERE IS YOUR STRONGHOLD?

Can you recall stronghold moments in your own life? The scripture above speaks of a time when Elijah was in a stronghold situation. He had done a great thing and fought Baal and proven to the pagan worshipers that there was only One Great God and it was NOT Baal. When the rains came, they were from God Almighty. God accepted the offering from Elijah and the offerings to Baal lay rotting for all to see.

Elijah had been up on the mountain having the mountaintop experience, just as David as he slay Goliath and then defeated the Philistines in a great victory. Now it was time to come down to earth. How quickly we can forget those mountaintop experiences when we hit the valley again.

Before and after this great event described above, Elijah had spent time at the foot of Mt. Horeb. Previously, Elijah had experienced an earthquake. While at the altar he had seen the fire fall from Heaven. He had felt the mighty winds blow through the land. Yet the scriptures tell us that God wasn’t in those things. This time He came to Elijah and spoke in a different way. It was a still, small voice. The voice came in a time that Elijah was alone with God in the wilderness.

For David, this unexpected time in the stronghold was about more than his own survival.  It was about time alone with God. Also, it was about time along with other fellow believers. The 400 men who made him their captain were also in hard places in their lives. They too needed this time in the stronghold. They sought time alone with God and fellow believers.

As he grew stronger himself, David felt the weight of helping these others around him.  Unbeknownst to David was the fact that this place of the stronghold was becoming a great training ground. The training ground was provided by God for the sake of David’s coming kingship.  

TRAINING A FUTURE KING

It was through these hard times with these rugged bands of men that David learned the wants and needs of the common people of Israel.  They all needed a better way to live. It was not enough just to survive. They desired good and godly homes that flourished with nourishment and substance.  Here in the wilderness they learned of The God who provides such things. Knowing God meant having hope that things could change.

A good king would have helped the common and oppressed people to have safer homes. He would have provided a way for them to put food on their tables.  These same men living under a more careful king would have been able to work. They could have earned money to provide for their families. Instead, under the rule of Saul, they were pouring endless taxes into the kingdom of a useless king. Saul wasn’t concerned with their welfare. Many had fled to the wilderness because they were in debt from heavy taxes. Saul was providing nothing for the people who served under him. 

Here in this wilderness stronghold, David would learn that a great kingdom needed to be able to thrive and live in peace. Growing a nation was not about war. It was about learning and living out God’s ways.  Yet, to achieve this, the people needed to be fortified. They needed to be protected from their enemies who definitely believed they were vulnerable. David could see all of this clearly from his perch in the stronghold. There were no distractions, just the gentle sound of that still small voice that whispered wisdom into his ears.

REFINEMENT THROUGH LIFE IN THE STRONGHOLD

Living with these troubled people in day-to-day struggles refined and shaped David’s character. He grew in ways that would not have happened otherwise.  David became an overcomer. He grew into one who helped those around him to become overcomers too. 

Christians living through end-times of today would do well to make this one of their daily goals. 

Be a David. 

Overcome. 

Help your friends and neighbors to overcome also. Stay in the stronghold and listen to God’s voice for as long as you need to gain the strength and wisdom to continue the journey. Face the anxiety. Deal with the problems. Confess your weaknesses to God and ask Him to help you. Make use of the time in the stronghold and hold on to the hope of more glorious times.

PEACE WHILE LIVING LIFE IN THE STRONGHOLD

In all of the struggles and overcoming, David found peace in composing, playing and singing the Psalms.  His music gave those who heard it hope. It uplifted all of those around him.  The best thing one can do in times of troubles and struggles is to offer hope.  This hope often happens in the form of music, art or poetry.  If that music, art and poetry is used in worship to the glory of God, amazing things can come from it.

These art forms are places where people’s hearts can find expression.  The common people are more able to put words to what they are feeling.  Such art forms provide a bonding experience when they are combined with worship and praise to God. It is said that God inhabits the praises of His people. This was happening each and every time David played the harp and shared the Psalms.

David used this outlet of composing music and poetry to find peace in the midst of chaos. So should we.  This gift which David possessed was an incredible help to all who lived within the camp.  If you have such gifts, please do not hide them.  Use them as David did for the glory of God.  Good things come in the most unexpected packages. Life is always better when we share the gifts of God’s Holy Spirit and use our talents to further the Kingdom of Heaven.

GIFTS USED FOR THE KINGDOM

Other gifts existed in this location called “the stronghold.” Prophets also lived in the stronghold.  David taught them how to sing the scriptures. He encouraged them to apply the Word of God to music.  They all admired David’s faith. The prophets loved the way David responded to the movements of God’s Holy Spirit by giving music to The Word of God. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of us used our talents and gifts from God as David did? The world would be such a wonderful place.

JUDAH AND HERETH

One day a prophet came to the stronghold and spoke with David.  He advised him not to stay in the stronghold.  Instead, he told David to go into the land of Judah.  So, David left. He went to the forest of Hereth.

Of course, Saul heard that David was there.   King Saul heavily criticized his men for protecting David. He was angry with them for not conspiring against him as he had requestsed.

Saul was also angry because he had learned Jonathan had made a covenant with David.  He accused Jonathan of plotting to kill him through David.

Doeg the Edomite informed Saul he had seen David come to Ahimelek at Nob.  He spoke of how Ahimelek had prayed for David. He told that Ahimelek had given David nourishment from the shewbread. Doeg said the prophet had also given David other valuable provisions, including the sword of Goliath the Philistine. All of these were considered to be treasures of the Temple. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/?p=38035.

WAS DAVID OUT OF ORDER?

Scholarly men have shared many explanations about David taking the things given unto the Temple.  Many consider whether this was right or wrong of both Ahimelek and David.  

I’m thinking of how God provided every article from the Temple which was helpful to David. These things were truly a gift from God.  I suspect that God enjoyed sharing with David in this instance.  Yet; who am I to say?  One day we can ask God. He will tell us the correct answer.

Saul sent for Ahimelek. He asked him why he had done these things for David. Ahimelek explained that in the midst of everything, David had been loyal to Saul.  He pointed out that David had been a good son-in-law, a great captain, and bodyguard who was highly respected by Saul’s household. 

SAUL ORDERS THE PRIESTS KILLED

This answer only infuriated Saul more.  It bothered him so much that he told Ahimelek he was about to die.  Then Saul ordered that all of the priest of the Lord be killed.  He gave this horrible order because he knew they knew about the whereabouts of David too.  They all had disobeyed Saul’s command to kill David.  Now they would become martyrs who died innocently defending God’s anointed.

This order troubled Saul’s men. They refused to kill the priests of God. It must have taken a lot of courage for these men to stand up and refuse to do Saul’s will.

When this happened, Saul turned to Doeg again.  He ordered Doeg to kill the priests of the Lord.  Doeg obeyed Saul.  Not only did Doeg kill 85 priests of God; he also went to Nob and killed all of the people in the town. This included men, women and children.  He even killed their cattle and all of their livestock. 

ABIATHAR FLEES TO DAVID

One man escaped.  This was Abiathar, who was Ahitub’s son, and Ahimelek’s grandson.  Abiathar went to find David. He told him that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 

David expressed he suspected Doeg the Edomite would be sure to tell Saul of the things that had happened to him.  Now David felt responsible for the death of all of Abiathar’s family.  David asked Abiathar to stay with him.  He told Abiathar not to be afraid.  David pointed out that the same men were trying to kill both of them.  It was agreed that Abiathar would be safer with David. 

TRUSTING GOD’S MERCY

Yes, life in the stronghold was all about trusting God’s mercy. This was what they had to hold on to and nothing else. It was enough. God’s mercy was all they needed during the time of the stronghold.

Here are some words from a psalm we think David might have written around this time.   “But as for me, I am a leafy olive-tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”  Psalm 52:10.

Again, David’s words express his constant trust in God. He kept trusting, even among great distress and chaos.  David trusted even when his life was threatened and in danger. Now Abiathar would be in the same stronghold and doing the same.