David seemed to be cut off from every human support. All that he held dear on earth had been swept from him. Saul had driven him from his country; the Philistines had driven him from the camp; the Amalekites had plundered his city; his wives and children had been made prisoners; and his own familiar friends had banded against him, and threatened him even with death. In this hour of utmost extremity David, instead of permitting his mind to dwell upon these painful circumstances, looked earnestly to God for help. He "encouraged himself in the Lord." He reviewed his past eventful life. Wherein had the Lord ever forsaken him? His soul was refreshed in recalling the many evidences of God's favor. The followers of David, by their discontent and impatience, made their affliction doubly grievous; but the man of God, having even greater cause for grief, bore himself with fortitude. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3), was the language of his heart. Though he himself 693 could not discern a way out of the difficulty, God could see it, and would teach him what to do.

David følte sig fuldstændig svigtet af mennesker. Alt det, han elskede på denne jord, var blevet taget fra ham. Saul havde landsforvist ham, og filisterne havde sendt ham bort fra deres lejr. Amalekitterne havde plyndret hans by, hans hustruer og børn var blevet taget til fange, og nu vendte hans nærmeste venner sig imod ham og truede med at dræbe ham. Men David satte sig ikke til at gruble over sine store vanskeligheder i dette kritiske øjeblik. Han bad inderligt Gud om hjælp. Han "søgte styrke hos Herren sin Gud". Han så tilbage på sit begivenhedsrige liv. Havde Herren nogensinde ladet ham i stikken? Da han tænkte på alle de gange, Gud havde været ham nådig, fattede han nyt mod. Davids folk gjorde det endnu sværere for sig selv ved at give deres misfornøjelse og utålmodighed luft, men Guds tjener, der havde endnu mere grund til at sørge, fandt ny styrke. "Når jeg gribes af frygt, vil jeg stole på dig" var han hjertes motto. (Sl. 56, 4.) Skønt Han ikke selv kunne se nogen udvej, kunne Gud, og han ville vise David, hvad han skulle gøre.