What To Think In An Undesirable Situation

“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.