And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. (2 Sam. 16:7-11)
As David neared the town of Bahurim, a city of the Levites, a distant relation to Saul came out and pronounced a curse upon David, not only denigrating David as king but identifying David’s acts as bloody and shameful. David’s men thought to silence Shimei for his curses, but David knew that they were either the harmless rantings of someone with no power to act on his curses, or he was directed by the Spirit of the LORD to once again remind David that all that was going on was part of the judgment upon David for his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Even Absalom entering Jerusalem and dishonoring those of David’s household was because David had dishonored himself and God.
David was indeed a bloody man. He had had Uriah killed in order to take Bathsheba and the LORD had pronounced that the sword would never leave his own house. David was forgiven of his sin because he repented before the LORD but he was not free from judgment and the consequences of his choices and actions. Amnon’s death at Absalom’s hand and now Absalom taking the kingdom by treachery was all a result of David’s departure from the commandments and precepts which God had given. David acquiesced to the judgment and justice of God and trusted that the curses of Shimei were empty words of a bitter relation to Saul or a reminder from God of all that was going on was of Him.
When people rant and rave against us our first reaction is to respond in kind or work to silence and eliminate such boisterous objections to us and our ministry. As David, we must trust the LORD and seek His counsel and wisdom to understand when to speak and when to keep silent and let the LORD fight our battles. Accusations may have to be responded to or dealt with, but simple rantings with no force or well-known realities being rehashed but with substance are to be ignored and left unto God. Even in the midst of change, if we leave our ministry in the hands of the LORD, He will take care of our work that we may continue to reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach the Word unto whosoever will receive Him. Our ministry, missions, and discipleship is all for the purpose of equipping the saints and sharing the good news of salvation by faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary unto all whom God brings unto us. Empty words will not quench the Spirit, but our responding to those who have no power against us may grieve Him and affect our ministry and testimony before the LORD. A discerning heart and a humble spirit will see the difference between idle words, empty threats, and old accusations which even if not from God are of no consequences as we trust Him to work all things for His good and our growth. He will never leave us nor forsake us and He knows all things and we can leave that which He does not direct us to do in His hands.
Until God is done with us He has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
David was indeed a bloody man. He had had Uriah killed in order to take Bathsheba and the LORD had pronounced that the sword would never leave his own house. David was forgiven of his sin because he repented before the LORD but he was not free from judgment and the consequences of his choices and actions. Amnon’s death at Absalom’s hand and now Absalom taking the kingdom by treachery was all a result of David’s departure from the commandments and precepts which God had given. David acquiesced to the judgment and justice of God and trusted that the curses of Shimei were empty words of a bitter relation to Saul or a reminder from God of all that was going on was of Him.
When people rant and rave against us our first reaction is to respond in kind or work to silence and eliminate such boisterous objections to us and our ministry. As David, we must trust the LORD and seek His counsel and wisdom to understand when to speak and when to keep silent and let the LORD fight our battles. Accusations may have to be responded to or dealt with, but simple rantings with no force or well-known realities being rehashed but with substance are to be ignored and left unto God. Even in the midst of change, if we leave our ministry in the hands of the LORD, He will take care of our work that we may continue to reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach the Word unto whosoever will receive Him. Our ministry, missions, and discipleship is all for the purpose of equipping the saints and sharing the good news of salvation by faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary unto all whom God brings unto us. Empty words will not quench the Spirit, but our responding to those who have no power against us may grieve Him and affect our ministry and testimony before the LORD. A discerning heart and a humble spirit will see the difference between idle words, empty threats, and old accusations which even if not from God are of no consequences as we trust Him to work all things for His good and our growth. He will never leave us nor forsake us and He knows all things and we can leave that which He does not direct us to do in His hands.
Until God is done with us He has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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