When Kind David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out whose name was Shimei son of Gera; he came out cursing. He threw stones at David and at all the servants of Kind David; now all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. Shimei shouted while he cursed, "Out! Out! Murderer! Scoundrel! The LORD has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you; for you are a man of blood."

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head." But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’" David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on my distress, and the LORD will repay me with good for this cursing of me today." So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed him as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust at him. The kind and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself.

2 Samuel 16:1-14

David was fleeing from his son Absalom, who wanted to kill him. Unlike David, we often want to silence our critics, insist on fairness, and defend ourselves. But as we grow in our awareness of God’s protective love, we become less concerned about what others say about us and more willing to entrust ourselves to our Father. We can ask our opponents to justify their charges, or we may counter them with denials. David went another route. He waited patiently for God to vindicate him. It is good to look beyond those who oppose us and look to the One who loves us with infinite love. It is good to be able to believe that whatever God permits is for our ultimate good, even though our hearts may break and we may be reduced to tears. You are in God’s hands, no matter what others are saying about you. He has seen your distress, and in time He will repay you for the cursing you have received. So trust Him and abide in His love.

We can endure life’s wrongs because

we know that God will make all things right.

Our Daily Bread – February 10, 2004