We are going to look at the life of David and how he learned to counsel himself when he was down.
Proverbs 11:14 NKJV Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 24:6 NKJV For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having counselors in your life. But there are going to be times when you do not have access to other counselors and you need to learn to counsel yourself.
You and I have access to two of the best Counselors you could ever have: the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Psalms 119:24 NKJV Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.
Psalms 119:24 TPT Your commandments are my counselors; your word is my light and delight!
Psalms 1:1 NKJV Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
Psalms 16:7 NKJV I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
Psalms 33:11 NKJV The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
Psalms 106:13 NKJV They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel,
Psalms 107:11 NKJV Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High,
What we should not do is depend on human counselors and go to them FIRST instead of to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
David had fled Jerusalem because of the betrayal of Absalom his son as found in 2 Samuel 15. In chapter 17, the Bible records that David went to the area of Gilead (Balm of Gilead). There he was seeking rest and the counsel of the Lord in what to do. He wanted answers and examined himself.
- Absalom rebels against David (15:1-12)
- David flees (15:13-31)
- David meets with loyal Hushai (15:32-37)
- David meets with Mephibosheth’s servant (16:1-4)
- David meets with Shimei (16:5-14)
- Hushai versus Ahithophel (16:15-17:14)
- Hushai’s plan (17:15-29)
- David versus Absalom (18:1-19:15)
- David meets with Shimei (19:16-23)
- David meets with Mephibosheth (19:24-30)
- David meets with loyal Barzillai (19:31-38)
- David returns (19:39-43)
One of the things that made David such a great man, was that when he had problems, he always started by examining himself. He never passed blame onto other people as many of us do.
Psalms 42:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
The implication of this verse is that the deer was being pursued or hunted as prey. That is why it was panting.
Psalms 42:1-11 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. (2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (3) My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” (4) When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. (5) Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. (6) O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. (7) Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. (8) The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life. (9) I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (10) As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (11) Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Everything in David’s life had been set aside so that he could receive God’s counsel.
- The first thing in counselling yourself is to have a passionate hunger for God.
Make the Lord your highest priority.
Psalms 42:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalms 42:6 NKJV O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.
David was a great king, and the Bible says that he was a man after God’s own heart, but David caused a lot of his own problems that he encountered in life.
But when you make up your mind to seek after God with all your heart, judge yourself, God will forgive you and then move to bring you out of the trouble YOU HAVE CAUSED.
- Take your eyes off the problem and the enemies of your soul.
Psalms 42:8 NKJV The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me– A prayer to the God of my life.
v. 8 – David said:
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- I will meditate on Your loving kindness in the daytime.
- I will sing your song in the nighttime.
- My life shall be saturated with and by prayer.
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- Cast down reasonings as to why these problems have happened and ask God for the answers.
When you have questions, God has answers!
Have you ever asked yourself or God the question, why did I not see this coming? Why did you not tell me?
The Holy Spirit is not obligated to tell us everything. Where would the walk of faith be, if He did?
Trust the Word that we already have and God will bring you out of the situation.
- Counsel yourself by the rock of God’s Word.
Psalms 42:5 NKJV Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
Psalms 42:11 NKJV Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Counsel yourself to bring yourself back into faith, love, etc.
David often talked to himself. (Psalm 103)
Psalms 103:1-5 NKJV A Psalm Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: (3) Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, (4) Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, (5) Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalms 37:1-2 NKJV A Psalm of David. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. (2) For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
Absalom worked for 4 years to set up his rebellion, but his moment of glory and downfall was only a matter of a few weeks and it was all over.
Even though David may have caused some of his own problems, because he pursued after the Lord, God delivered him!
Psalms 34:19 NKJV Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Psalms 107:8-15 NKJV Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! (9) For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. (10) Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons– (11) Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, (12) Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. (13) Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. (14) He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. (15) Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
- Put your hope in the Word of God, and He will become the help of your countenance.
Psalms 42:5 NKJV Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
Psalms 42:11 NKJV Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Countenance – someone’s face; a reflection of a person’s mood or attitude.
God’s countenance is always consistent even when our countenance is down!
Psalms 43:5 TPT Then I will say to my soul, “Don’t be discouraged; don’t be disturbed, for I fully expect my Savior-God to break through for me. Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again.” Yes, living before his face is my saving grace!