Adversaries by Design
Reflective Reading: Matthew 5:11-12
“And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name, Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men on his right hand and on his left. 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 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 this Benjamite? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there” (2 Samuel 16:5-14).
There are four major portions of this text that I would like to highlight:
So let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David.
Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now this Benjamite?
Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
David’s response to such degrading treatment is nothing less than Divine. It appears that this text is doing just that—demonstrating Divine grace when undeserved. David’s actions are not only a picture of Divine mercy and grace but also of human possibilities. We too can demonstrate the loving character of God to those who are undeserving. But there is a prerequisite to this Divine display. We must be convinced of the sovereign rule of God over our lives and his good and loving intentions toward us and others.
Notice David’s understanding of God’s sovereign rule over his life. David says, “so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David.” David gets it. He understands that all of life is controlled by Divine rule, guidance, and authority. This does not mean that we are puppets on a string, but that God is in control of the details. Every situation that comes our way is designed by an all-wise God who presents us with opportunities to trust him. David sees the cursing of Shimei as a Divine encounter to teach him (David) a lesson that is not apparent. Understanding this lesson of Divine design will save us from a lot of trouble and heartache and prepare us for future reward.
The next lesson we learn from the shameful conduct of Shimei, is David’s humble understanding that his own family is not much better off than the shameful actions of Shimei. David says,
“Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now this Benjamite?”
What a powerful lesson for us today! Friends, we have many privileges and rewards today, but may we never think ourselves better than others. The Apostle Paul writes, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:4). Jesus himself “made himself of no reputation, but took upon him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7a). It is through this posture that we are made great. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him” (Jesus) (Philippians 2:9a).
The next lesson is that David doesn’t try to stop the insults or false accusations. Instead, he responds:
“…let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.”
How often we try to silence our adversaries, when God raises up adversaries to teach us important spiritual lessons; lessons we could not otherwise learn. I know I have shared this previously, but it is still a lesson that I believe is worth sharing again.
When a government official blocked one of my building projects for over two years, I thought the best way to deal with this was through litigation. I obtained a lawyer, and after receiving counsel from close godly friends and other legal advice, it seemed that the law was 100% in my favor. But something didn’t seem right. I prayed and prayed, but things only got worse. The more I challenged my adversary, the more restraints I received and costs I had to pay.
Then, while driving one day, I heard Chuck Swindoll preaching a message from Romans on the radio. The message was simple. “Don’t challenge the authorities that God has assigned to you, no matter what!” The text that Chuck read was:
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1,2).
That was enough for me! Situation settled! Like David, I was convinced that “the LORD had bidden him.” My adversary was a Divine appointment. I stopped resisting, and the closed doors of restriction began to open. I even thanked my “adversary.” We shook hands, and that chapter of my life closed.
Jesus said, “Agree quickly with thine adversary” (Matthew 5:25). This is an important principle to live by. Divine designs, assignments, and adversaries come in a variety of packages. Responding the way David did opens the door for the next lesson—the reward.
I love this next lesson. David said:
“It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will return me good for his cursing this day.”
Understanding that God is good and in control of every aspect of your life, for your good, should lead you to believe that there is a reward at the end of your suffering. The author of Hebrews wrote:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
This is an important truth that needs to settle deep within us. First, living this life requires faith. Without it, we are on a sinking ship. Second, it is essential to understand that God is good and desires to reward us. Throughout the Scriptures, God desires to bless those who seek him and obey him with the following rewards (see Proverbs chapters 3 and 4):
Length of days
Riches
Honour
Pleasantness
Peace
Life
Wisdom will be a Tree of Life to you
You will receive favor
You will walk safely
Your foot won’t stumble
When you lie down you won’t be afraid
Your sleep will be sweet
You will not be afraid of sudden terror
The LORD will be your confidence and guard your steps
Honor
Favor
Exaltation
David wrote in Psalm 19:11, “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: in keeping of them (commandments) is great reward.”
Isaiah wrote:
“Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him” (Isaiah 62:11).
In the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus spoke, saying:
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).
David understood that God was sovereignly in control of all of the circumstances of his life. He believed that all of life is “because of the LORD.” He believed that God is good and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, obey him, and love him. And it is “because of the LORD” that we too can be confident that God has our backs and our best interest in mind; and we can trust him.
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min
Recommended Reading:
King Jack (book or dramatic audio) Ages 6+
Ellerslie House (book) Ages 9+
A Tale of Three Kings resource book
