“When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And Shimei said as he cursed, ‘Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.’ Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.’ But the king said, ‘What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, “Curse David,” who then shall say, “Why have you done so?”’ And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, ‘Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.’ So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust” (2 Samuel 16:5-13, ESV).
When I was still in college, one of our professors announced about the exam he would give in our next meeting. And as he described how it would go, I could just sympathize with the groanings of despair made by most of my classmates.
However, I was surprised and really amused by the remarked made by one sitting beside me. Though the coming test was extra difficult, he blurted out: "Wonderful! Exciting!..." -- and other positive words.
As I was leaving the classroom, I was now thinking of the delightful remarks of my classmate, instead of the announcement of a difficult exam.
This time, let’s also focus on… WHAT TO THINK IN AN UNDESIRABLE SITUATION… as we consider our text, 2 Samuel 16:5-13.
So, when we find ourselves in difficulty, or in a any situation we do not want to be, instead of protesting, complaining, worrying, or even blaming others, what thoughts should we entertain in our mind?
Let’s realize first that the incident in our text happened, when David and his supporters went out from Jerusalem to avoid an armed conflict with his son, Absalom, who wanted to take his throne.
When the group approached the place from Jerusalem to Jericho, called Bahurim, Shimei, who was a relative of the previous king of Israel – Saul, cursed David and threw stones at him and all his followers.
We could learn at least two godly kingly reactions of David in that very humiliating, dishonorable, wrath fueling situation. And if we found also ourselves in such situation, or in whatever unwanted incident or experience in life, we could at least think of two encouraging things.
What are those?
First, GOD IS IN CONTROL (verses 9-10).
We read verses 9-10, “Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.’ But the king said, ‘What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, “Curse David,” who then shall say, “Why have you done so?”’”
Notice the reaction of Abishai, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”
What Shimei did was worthy of his death. But King David did not share in the thought of Abishai.
Further, David said, “… If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
King David acknowledged that God was in control. If the Sovereign God prompted Shimei to curse him, no one could question the Divine King in allowing it. Though David was king himself, he realized that God is Sovereign over all. And no one is exempted to submit to all and whatever will be His Sovereign Will.
It is always easy to see the Hand of God, when good things are happening in our life. But, when things go sour, we tend to forget that God is in the picture. What is now clear before us is the bad experience, or the painful trial, or the enemy or bad person who is attacking us.
But, David did not only see God in the dark moments of his life. He also grasp that the Sovereign God is not only watching, but in control and actually doing something.
Remember Job? After he lost all his children and his possessions, he declared:
“… The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
And when his whole body suffered “loathsome sores,” he told his wife, “… Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10.)
God is present not only in every place, but in every situation that happens in our life. He is present and in control not only when we are enjoying in the sunny or bright moments, but also when we are suffering in the gloomy or bleak moments.
God is always in the picture. He is always at work.
Even in the negative situation, the Sovereign Hand of God should not be overlooked. Nothing happens beyond His control.
How about us, people of God – are we always aware that God is working in every moment of our life?
We need to realize that He can send not only good things, but even bad or evil things. Job had realized it, when he said, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job. 42:2).
In the New Living Translation, we read: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.”
Job understood that the Sovereign God can do anything not only to the universe, to the weather, to the circumstances, or to events, but even to his own life.
Joseph, who became the second in command of Egypt, told his brothers, who did evil things to him:
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20).
Treasure the thought, then, that when we are in undesirable situation, or evil experience the Sovereign God is in control. He could allow it to happen for a very good purpose.
Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, “… God causes all thing to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (NAS).
Let us not forget that God has an absolute control even of evil situation.
What else should we remember, if we are in unwanted situation?
Next, GOD IS BOUND TO BLESS (verses 11-12).
We read verses 11-12, “And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, ‘Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.’"
Notice, what David told Abishai, “… Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today."
David acknowledged that God was not only control, but He could also bless.
As God would see his penitent heart in his misery, instead of the curse that was pronounced to him by his enemy, David was expectant for God’s blessing. He looked for the favor that God could give in he future. He did not focus on the pain that he was going through.
As David also acknowledged that the Sovereign God allowed that unwanted incident, he did not attempt to stop it. He told his commander-in-chief, “Leave him (Shimei) alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.” He accepted what is bitter believing that God could also grant what is favorable later.
Believers, today, should also realize that no matter what misery they are now suffering, God knows every tear, every pain, every trial that burdens them. And no matter what undesirable situation they are now enduring, God could bless them sooner or later.
God is truly Sovereign. He can turn curses into blessings. What happened to Joseph is an encouraging example for us.
We could also learn from the life of Job. Great favor that actually came to him, when he was struggling with his pain. Restoration of his fortune and what was dear to his heart just came afterwards. But the significant blessing that he experienced was when he heard and learned from the Word of God. He became more intimately with his God.
To hear God’s Voice and learn more about God’s Greatness is a great blessing.
Could we also expect it during our time? Could we also expect God’s blessing even when we are in pain?
Remember that God could bless not only when the situation is favorable, not only when others are treating us nicely. His blessing does not depend on the goodness of the situation. Most of His great blessings are formed on the anvil of affliction.
Of course, we could look forward for His glorious blessing.
As Paul wrote, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the thing that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
But the glorious blessing of hearing God’s Word is available to us now through His Book – the Bible. Even in pain we could have an access to the glorious blessing of knowing more the revelation of God’s Glory.
We could expect for God’s favor at any moment. We read in Psalm 84:11-12, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”
CONCLUSION:
When going through a difficult, think of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. who suffered and died to pay for our own sins. And He lived for our righteousness. He acknowledged that God the Father is in control of the suffering He would go through. In His prayer, He told His Father, "... Your will be done."
Also, as He was in pain, His mind is on the blessing of joy that would come. We read in in Hebrews 12:2 that "...Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
