Scripture:
2 Samuel 16:9-14 ESV
[9] Then Abishai the 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.” [10] 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?’” [11] And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. [12] It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.” [13] So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. [14] And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.
Observation:
When King David fled from his son. He took with him, valiant men. Men who knew how to fight, and would not back down from a challenge. As they parted from the city. A man was following on the hill next to them. Throwing rocks and calling names. In a sense, he was running them out of town. And that just didn’t sit well with Abishai. He was already having to leave his comfortable home in the land of promise to go only GOD knows where. I’m sure he was a little aggravated. I can see the thoughts running through his mind. Do you know who I am?…do you know how many men I have struck down at the edge of the sword on my hip?…and you are throwing rocks and calling names. Let me cut him down, my King let’s show them who we are I’m not sure why we are even leaving. This is our nation given by GOD. Come on let me kill him. He is worthless… His emotions were playing a big part in his thinking. David on the other hand was thinking clearly. When Abishai asked if he could take this guy apart. David referred to the LORD…wait Abishai we don’t know what GOD is doing. We can’t see that. Don’t you understand how much bigger GOD is than this situation? I have seen HIM deliver me from not only Saul…but the hands of a giant…the Philistines and so many other things. If HE delivered me from all that. HE will deliver me from this too. Let’s just let HIM deal with this. HE will…just have faith, my friend. GOD’s got this.
Application:
When we allow our emotions to get the best of us and react. We are saying that we know better than GOD. I know it’s not easy. But we have to. Get out of the way. GOD is so much bigger the us. HE sees the whole picture. As Paul said we see only a small part. It’s like looking through a fogged glass. Our emotions can be very dangerous. They are tightly connected to our flesh. They tend to demand a reaction. They say things like…you need to, or if you don’t…or I can make this stop. A reaction to the situation. Is exactly what the enemy wants. Then he can point and accuse. Let’s look at the way he approached Job. He came after all of Job’s stuff hoping to get a reaction. When that didn’t work he came after his family. When that didn’t work he came after his health. He wants a reaction from emotion because he knows the bond between our flesh and our emotions is tightly bound. I challenge you today. Do not react. Be spirit-led. Here’s how you can see the difference. Your emotions will demand and the spirit will lead your emotions will not wait, but the spirit will take time to think it through. Your emotions want something done right now, and the holy spirit says to be still, and know that GOD is fighting for you. I know it’s not easy because your emotions are screaming at you, but the holy spirit is just whispering. You have to train your ear to hear HIM… OH, but when you do. GOD will step in and do amazing things. That you honestly never thought possible. Stop…listen…and act. Don’t react.
Prayer:
Father, we know it’s not easy and that you can not always be easily heard. Your voice is still and small, and we have to train our ears to hear it. Help us to do so. I personally want to just thank you, Father. You have saved me from a lot of wrecks, and I know you are not done doing so. Because I still have emotions and at times I still want to react. So I pray that you will continue to lead me and all who read this with your holy spirit. Train our ears by feeding us with your word. Man does not survive on bread alone. We survive on the breath of life given by your son. Who is found by taking time to read your word. That is how our ears are trained. So I ask right now that you would increase our desire to seek you in reading your truth let it be written on our hearts. So that we can act appropriately in all that is placed in front of us. I pray that the ears of the readers are opened, and that you would continue to use your word through this SOAP that you write to change lives. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus that I pray amen.