By Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva
November 2011 Edition
When it rains, it pours. Here’s a saying that never grows old to us. Probably, it’s because we have somehow come to terms with the fact that there are just seasons in our lives when one blow seems to naturally come after the other.
Even Israel’s greatest king, David, found himself in a bind. The book of Second Samuel tells the story of David’s fortunes and misfortunes. Though revered as a mighty king, he also reached the lowest of lows. From being hunted by King Saul, he turned taunted by a king’s relative crazed by his anger toward David. A king in flight, David found himself deliberately and unjustly being cursed, assaulted, and thrown rocks at.
David’s own men wanted to retaliate and avenge him, but he simply let things be (2 Samuel 16:9-13). He reasoned: “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today” (2 Samuel 16:11,12).
How David conducted himself in such a dire situation teaches us three important lessons.
First, we must behave ourselves wisely at all times. 1 Samuel 18:14 attests how “David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.”
Because David walked in step with the LORD, his chaotic external circumstance didn’t affect his internal condition. Shimei’s cursing was nothing compared to King Saul’s running after him to kill him. Yet, amid Shimei’s assault and Saul’s pursuit, David didn’t avenge himself. He simply kept his peace and walked with God.
In the same manner, we should learn to keep in step with God, behave ourselves wisely at all times, and keep a heart that is at peace with the LORD’s dealing.
Second, like David, we must learn to rightly respond rather than merely react to our situation. To rightly respond requires high maturity that is based on a rational appraisal of our situation. Contrariwise, to merely react to a situation is to let our feelings and emotions get the better of us which often lead to more complex troubles.
And lastly, we must also learn to completely trust the sovereignty of God. Like David, Daniel, Abraham, Job, Joseph, and the saints of old, let us learn to see the hand of God at work behind everything that happens in our lives. By everything, I mean the good lumped with the bad. Joseph himself testified: even that which the enemy has meant for evil, the LORD can turn it around for our good (Genesis 50:20).
Today, when we find ourselves trapped in a valley of curses, with stones and rocks being hurled at us, may God grant us the grace to wisely behave ourselves like David did. After all, when we keep a loving relationship with God, all things will ultimately work out for our good (Romans 8:28). God is too wise to be mistaken.
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