David Knew The Secret Of Being Meek And Gentle
My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today. – 2 Samuel 16:11-12
David was certainly a rare breed. His son, Absalom, had worked a coup and had taken the throne, now he is being cursed by one of his subjects, yet he did not respond and granted grace. It is hard to believe that this is the same man who slew Goliath and led many campaigns against the Philistines, but now, he runs from his own son.
Most men would have quickly put down the rebellion, and would certainly have executed a man who would come at him throwing rocks and cursing him, but David was not most men. Rather than respond with pride and seeking vindication for his ego, he granted grace. He was truly a meek man.
What was David’s hope in this? “May be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.” David knew that when he was following the Lord, though the circumstances would appear otherwise, God will repay faithfulness.
When we are trying to do God’s work our way it is very difficult to take the humble path. All too often we interpret our ambition as God’s purpose and allow our ego to drive us rather than to surrender to God and wait for his timing. David knew the value of allowing God to fight his battles and he was not going to fight his own son for the kingdom.
How often have we, in matters of much less consequence, insisted upon our rights only in the end to discover that the outcome would have been better if we had allowed God to take care of the issue in his own way and in his time?
David is a model for us to follow. The way we respond to being unfairly assailed with false accusations, will demonstrate what we are on the inside.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t think I could be as gracious as David was. I need your help to respond to unfairness with love and grace. In Jesus name, amen.
Message: All too often we interpret our ambition as God’s purpose and allow our ego to drive us rather than to surrender to God and wait for his timing.
Affirmation: I refuse to allow my ambition and ego to guide me when others attack me. Rather I will surrender to God and wait for his timing.
Reflection: David learned to wait on God when Samuel anointed him king while Saul still sat on the throne. David refused to take the throne by force, even when God had promised it to him. Give some thought to how you might apply that principle to your own life circumstances.
If you like this devotion you can get a full month of devotions on Gentleness just by filling in the form below with your name and email address then click "Yes-Send It" button and you will have immediate access to this devotional and several others as well.
David was certainly a rare breed. His son, Absalom, had worked a coup and had taken the throne, now he is being cursed by one of his subjects, yet he did not respond and granted grace. It is hard to believe that this is the same man who slew Goliath and led many campaigns against the Philistines, but now, he runs from his own son.
Most men would have quickly put down the rebellion, and would certainly have executed a man who would come at him throwing rocks and cursing him, but David was not most men. Rather than respond with pride and seeking vindication for his ego, he granted grace. He was truly a meek man.
What was David’s hope in this? “May be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.” David knew that when he was following the Lord, though the circumstances would appear otherwise, God will repay faithfulness.
When we are trying to do God’s work our way it is very difficult to take the humble path. All too often we interpret our ambition as God’s purpose and allow our ego to drive us rather than to surrender to God and wait for his timing. David knew the value of allowing God to fight his battles and he was not going to fight his own son for the kingdom.
How often have we, in matters of much less consequence, insisted upon our rights only in the end to discover that the outcome would have been better if we had allowed God to take care of the issue in his own way and in his time?
David is a model for us to follow. The way we respond to being unfairly assailed with false accusations, will demonstrate what we are on the inside.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t think I could be as gracious as David was. I need your help to respond to unfairness with love and grace. In Jesus name, amen.
Message: All too often we interpret our ambition as God’s purpose and allow our ego to drive us rather than to surrender to God and wait for his timing.
Affirmation: I refuse to allow my ambition and ego to guide me when others attack me. Rather I will surrender to God and wait for his timing.
Reflection: David learned to wait on God when Samuel anointed him king while Saul still sat on the throne. David refused to take the throne by force, even when God had promised it to him. Give some thought to how you might apply that principle to your own life circumstances.
If you like this devotion you can get a full month of devotions on Gentleness just by filling in the form below with your name and email address then click "Yes-Send It" button and you will have immediate access to this devotional and several others as well.
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