The Curses of Others
It never feels good to be cursed or criticized by another person. In fact, it can be a very destructive force in our lives if we do not respond correctly. David showed us how to respond when he was cursed by Shimei as he left Jerusalem during the rebellion of Absalom.(II Samuel 16:12) Please, consider David's response and apply it in your life.
David's men wanted to kill Shimei for his curses, but David stopped them. David showed all of the people with him that he was depending on the Lord to refute the curses and to bless him, if that was God's will. This shows us two vital parts of how to repsond to the curses of others. We must consider that they might be right in criticizing us. We might need to repent of sin and make things right with them or others. We must not simply get angry, and we must not retaliate. That never helps the situation. Also, we must trust that God can repay us with good because of the cursing. In other words, it is God who can bless us and show that the cursing is wrong. If we try to defend ourselves, people will just think we are self serving. Therefore, we depend on the grace and goodness of God to vindicate us.
It is a sign of spiritual maturity when we can react to cursing in the correct way and in the correct spirit. I pray that all of us will have this maturity so the curses will not be destructive in our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 17-20.
David's men wanted to kill Shimei for his curses, but David stopped them. David showed all of the people with him that he was depending on the Lord to refute the curses and to bless him, if that was God's will. This shows us two vital parts of how to repsond to the curses of others. We must consider that they might be right in criticizing us. We might need to repent of sin and make things right with them or others. We must not simply get angry, and we must not retaliate. That never helps the situation. Also, we must trust that God can repay us with good because of the cursing. In other words, it is God who can bless us and show that the cursing is wrong. If we try to defend ourselves, people will just think we are self serving. Therefore, we depend on the grace and goodness of God to vindicate us.
It is a sign of spiritual maturity when we can react to cursing in the correct way and in the correct spirit. I pray that all of us will have this maturity so the curses will not be destructive in our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 17-20.