King David is presented in the Tanakh as a figure who is successful in coping in times of crisis and distress – both on an individual level and as a leader. One of the most difficult events experienced by David was the Amalekite invasion of Ziklag, in which the city was destroyed and his men’s families were taken captive.
King David is presented in the Tanakh as a figure who is successful in coping in times of crisis and distress – both on an individual level and as a leader. One of the most difficult events experienced by David was the Amalekite invasion of Ziklag, in which the city was destroyed and his men’s families were taken captive:
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3 When David and his men came to the town and found it burned down, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive 4 David and the troops with him broke into tears, until they had no strength left for weeping. 5 David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail wife of Nabal from Carmel. 6 David was in great danger, for the troops threatened to stone him; for all the troops were embittered on account of their sons and daughters. But David sought strength in the LORD his God. |
(ג) ויבא דוד ואנשיו אל־העיר והנה שרופה באש ונשיהם ובניהם ובנתיהם נשבו |
If we pay attention to how David and his men react to this difficult event, we can note several stages:
First stage: Weeping - David and the troops with him broke into tears, until they had no strength left for weeping (4).
Second stage: Sadness and a sense of distress - David was in great danger, for the troops threatened to stone him (6). The sadness and anger of David’s men were directed at him, adding to his private pain and sorrow, leaving him feeling alone and abandoned.
Third stage: An inner strengthening of faith and choosing to turn to God - But David sought strength in the LORD his God…and David inquired of the LORD…(6-8).
Fourth stage: Action - David does not remain mired in sorrow and sadness, rather he chooses to take action. He goes to war and succeeds in freeing the captives: David continued the pursuit… David attacked them from before dawn until the evening of the next day… David rescued everything the Amalekites had taken; David also rescued his two wives” (10-18).
David's activities in this difficult time can teach us some significant lessons about coping in times of crisis. First, there is space for crying and sorrow. However, once the shock is over, the most useful way to deal with feelings of this kind is to turn inward to one’s own faith and belief - But David sought strength in the LORD his God. It was this belief that gave him the strength to pursue the Amalekites and save the people