Read 2 Samuel 16.
Whenever there is a change in leadership, some are sad, some
are mad and some are glad.
Wherever there is a leadership vacuum, a rush to power is
sure to come.
Amazingly, none of those who rushed to seize control of the
kingdom appear to have consulted the LORD on what He wanted done. This entire picture is one selfish desire for
power and/or revenge.
Ziba feigned sadness at David's departure, even bringing
refreshments. He told David that
Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem
in hopes to be king. Remember, he was
Saul's grandson.
Shimei, also from the tribe of Benjamin, was mad. He threw rocks at David as the king journeyed
in exile.
Absalom was glad. He
entered Jerusalem
as some conquering hero. In order to
establish himself as the leader and show complete separation from David, he put
on a public display of violating his father's concubines. Nathan prophesied this in 12:11 as one of the
consequences of David's sin.
All of this, of course, was enormously painful for David to
endure. The rejection, betrayal,
disrespect, abuse and sinful acts against him were unprecedented. Yet, he demonstrated unusual spiritual insight
into what was taking place.
He could have retaliated.
He could have stayed to fight. He
could have beheaded Shimei. He could
have cursed and blamed the LORD.
Instead, he recognized that all power belongs to God. It is He who raises up one and puts down
another. David accepted the humiliation as
from the LORD's hand. Then, he expressed
his faith that God had a hope and future for him.
"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 (Shimei) cursing
today." (v.12) This is a strong
faith-statement of looking at problems from God's perspective. Our trust is in Him today to complete His
plan in us in His time.
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