“For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, ‘Is not David hiding himself among us?’ Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power…. For strangers have risen against me and violent men have sought my life; they have not set God before them. Selah. Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul” (Psa 54:0-1 [1–3], 3-4 [5–6]).
The superscription of Psalm 54 directs us to the story of David fleeing from King Saul (1 Sam 23:14–28) and yet another betrayal by the Ziphites (1 Sam 23:19; see also 26:1). In this lament psalm, David describes strangers and violent men “seeking his soul/life” (Psa 54:3 [5]), a reference back to 1 Samuel 23:15, where Saul is “seeking David’s life.” These strangers and violent men are most likely Saul’s 3,000 chosen men (1 Sam 24:2).
Despite the overwhelming odds against him, David expresses confidence that he will overcome all his foes (Psa 54:5 [7], 7 [9]) because God is his helper (Psa 54:4 [6]). What the psalm itself does not explain, however, is the source of David’s confidence. This critical detail is found in 1 Samuel 23:16–17: “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and he strengthened his [David’s] hand in God. Thus he said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.’”
How different the story of my life would have been without those friends who strengthened my hand in God in my moments of greatest need.
Jonathan strengthened David’s hand in God by reminding him that God’s promises could not fail. In this sense, Jonathan is the unsung hero behind David’s inspired words of confidence. And herein we learn the secret to perseverance: we all need faithful friends who strengthen our hand in God, and we must become that kind of friend for others too. How different the story of my life would have been without those friends who strengthened my hand in God in my moments of greatest need.
So take a moment to thank God for the faithful friends who have come to your aid in your darkest moments. Then consider the needs of a child of God who is down and discouraged, and go strengthen his or her hand in God as well.
