Today we read about David's patience in affliction. I've listed
examples from the passage that demonstrate this truth combined with
bullets that portray equivalent actions of our own:
1. David forgives his son Absalom for killing his other son Amnon.
--A family member very close to you kills another family member that
you are equally close with. You'll never see your loved one again, but
you forgive the one that's the reason for their death.
2. Absalom then conspires to take over David's kingship. At this,
David walks humbly into exile without attempting to defend his
kingship.
--the person you just forgave for a serious offense now stabs you in
the back. Not only does this person turn many against you, but they
also desire to own your house. You willfully give them your house and
wander into the streets with no place to go.
3. In exile, David urges the foreign King Ittai the Gittite to unite
under King Absalom instead of wandering in banishment with David.
--In your suffering, the well-being of others is more important than
your own life. You value the lives of complete strangers above your
own.
4.Shimei, a man from the tribe of Benjamin (Saul's clan) hurls insults
on David. David has the power to kill Shimei and put a halt to his
insults, but chooses to allow Shimei to live.
--While you're wandering the streets, someone sees you suffering and
laughs in your face. This person reminds you of everything you did
wrong in your life and kicks dirt in your face. With the snap of your
fingers, you can put an end to their ridicule. Instead, you allow them
to curse you and even acknowledge their cursing as God's will.
5. David praises the Lord in the storm.
--You've lost loved ones at the hands of murderers. You forgave and
yet, life got worse. People you loved stabbed you in the back. People
you loved turned others against you and threw you out of your own
house into the streets. In your suffering, you remained selfless and
valued the lives of complete strangers above your own. Still, life got
worse. People made a point to kick you while you were already down.
Nevertheless, you accept life on life's terms. You refuse to lose hope
in God's plan to protect and prosper you. In desperation, you cry out
to the Lord for deliverance because you know He will bless you in His
appointed time. You never lose sight of God's glory that keeps your
head held high and you praise him for it.
No matter what you've been through, may be going through, or may go
through; just remember, "in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39). Jesus went through far
worse than David did and he overcame. Therefore, through our savior
Christ Jesus, we have overcome. Let's continue to praise the one that
there is always hope in and whose love never fails.
God Bless,
Anthony
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