Today's Reading - 2 Samuel 16-18, Psalm 61-62, 64
Background
The tragic story of Absalom is today's focus. A consequence of David's sin was bitterness in his son's heart and David's loss of clear moral authority to deal with his sons and their misdeeds. When he fell, he seemed to lose his way in other ways. Sin never helps us!
But David saw God's gracious hand and the Psalms we read continue the theme of seeking God's help in the dark times of life.
Devotional - Falsely Accused
All around him were liars, schemers, manipulators, usurpers and conspirators. He was fleeing Jerusalem up the Mt. of Olives to find safety from his own son who had turned the hearts of his people against him. Bathsheba's grandfather, Ahithophel, who was a trusted counselor to the king, had betrayed him and joined Absalom's conspiracy. Ziba the servant met him on the mount with lies about his master, Mephibosheth, in an effort to advance himself. And then, just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, he ran into Shimei, a relative of King Saul who had carried a huge grudge for a long time, ever since David's family supplanted his family as the royal family in Israel. So, as David wandered down the mountain, he threw rocks at him. But his wasn't the sticks and stones that broke his bones, it was the words that truly hurt him.
“Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man! The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed!” 2 Samuel 16:7-8
But was that true? No, it was not. Just the opposite was true. David did not kill Saul when he had the chance. He was compassionate to Saul and to his family. He bent over backward for them. Shimei's judgment was sure and certain but absolutely wrong.
But that did not mean that David was innocent. All of this came as a result of his sin with Bathsheba and the devastation it brought on his family.
How did David respond to all of this? Did he fall apart? Did he lash out in anger, wallow in self-pity, or ponder self-destruction? No. David fled from Jerusalem, but we see in 2 Samuel 16 that he continued to walk in faith and confidence in God.
First, he refused to get down in the mud with those who went after him. He did not "fight fire with fire." Others could lie, cheat, and steal, but David would walk in integrity. He relied on God instead of on his own schemes and intrigues. And when Shimei attacked him, he refused to strike back in violence and vengeance but put it in the hands of God's justice.
Every day as you walk in this world, you will encounter those who lie, who cheat and who scheme and manipulate to get what they want. That is the way of this world. You can't change that. (Jesus will one day, you will just have to wait!) The only question is how you will live in this sinful world. Will you live as everyone else does? When in Rome....you know. Or will you live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ at all times? Honesty. Integrity. Trust. Dependence on God. Returning good for evil. Waiting on God's judgment instead of taking vengeance - those things that David did, that Christ did.
Later, we read the end of the story. God frustrated the cheating of the cheaters, the lies of the liars, the usurping of the usurpers and he brought David back. It was a sad time, because David's son died. But God restored David and brought his enemies down.
It is always better to trust God and walk in his ways than to imitate the ways of the world!
Father, whatever happens, may I always follow your will and your ways.
Think and Pray
Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says that Lord.
That is a tough concept to get hold of, isn't it? Do you try to settle accounts yourself, or do you allow God to handle those who mistreat you?
No comments:
Post a Comment