UNDERSTANDING God’s ‘ROLE’ in OUR TROUBLES!
April 4 Bible
Reading: 2 Samuel Chapters 16-18
UNDERSTANDING God’s ‘ROLE’ in OUR TROUBLES!
And David said to Abishai and all his
servants, "See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How
much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the
Lord has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and
that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day." (2
Sam 16:11-12)
In his best
known psalm, David had confidently stated the following: "I will fear no evil" (Psalms 23:4). He did not purposely state “I will face no evil”, since David’s life was rocked with numerous
troubles to came to him one after the other. First, he had to run for his life because his own son Absalom, whom he had forgiven and reinstated back in
his life, had rebelled against him. Then,
his longtime counselor and friend, Ahithophel, had joined forces with Absalom. Right
after hearing this terrible news, David met Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, who
told him—falsely as it turned out (19:24–30)—that Mephibosheth also had gone over to Absalom (16:1–4). To add insult to injury, Shimei a
relative of Saul met David’s company and not only heaped verbal abuse at David but threw
stones at them as well…!!!
However,
David understood God’s role in his troubles, and his reaction was to assume that
God may have ordered Shimei to curse
David. After all, as a member of Saul’s clan, Shimei had more cause to seek David’s
life than his own son Absalom. It was also possible that David remembered Uriah’s
murder through his order, and realized that he deserved these troubles and even
more. David recognized that his own general sinfulness certainly qualified him
to receive such a cursing from Shimei. Knowing that that whole incident could
be of God’s doing, David forbade retaliation and hoped that God would look upon
his repentant heart and render a blessing to compensate for Shimei’s curse!
Thus, David
humbly accepted Shimei’s wicked cursing as God’s judgment and left all matters
with God. If the cursing was unjust, then God would repay David with good (16:12).
David’s ready submission to God’s judgment was consistent with his character
(12:20–23; 15:26). We know that Shimei later apologized (2 Sam. 19:18–23). On
his deathbed, David put a limit on his mercy, and Solomon had Shimei executed
when he violated his terms (1 Kings 2:8–9, 36–46).
The lesson
that we can learn is that nothing
happens in our lives without the knowledge of God. When David faced compounded
troubles, he squarely faced them with the confidence that God would bring out
something good through his troubles. God doesn’t allow troubles into our lives
for our destruction but only for our instruction. God chooses what
we go through but we choose how we
go through it. There are times when silence
and submission to God’s will are our best responses to the troubles that
come in our way!
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:19-23)
