2 Samuel 16: Obedience to God

David was the shepherd boy who became a champion in battle, and the unjustly accused and pursued, who twice spared the life of his oppressor. He was anointed as king of the entire Hebrew nation, glorified as a warrior and mighty general and the object of women's desires and wealthy beyond imagination.

At the pinnacle of his career when it is finally time to rest on his laurels, we find him in Chapter 16. He is -- again -- running for his life. This time, his own son seeks the throne. David takes handouts from his old servants and is humiliated by Saul's kinsman who pelts him with rocks, showers him with dirt and heckles him for miles along the trail. Surely, it is time for David to give up on God, isn't it? After all, if God had really been behind all of David's past success, He would never let David come to such a pitiful end, would He? It would be very easy (and perhaps typical) for any of us to conclude that all that past glory must have been something that David earned or deserved by his own merit. David knew better.

Instead of flying into a rage or withdrawing into a puddle of self-pity, how does David react? With gratitude, humility and faith instead of pridefully refusing his subordinate's assistance, he gratefully accepts Ziba's gifts and blesses him. Instead of vengefully lashing out at Shimei, he humbly acknowledges the fact that he has not lived the life that God would have him live. It mattered not that David was innocent of Saul's blood as Shimei accused. The important thing is that David knew that he was not blameless. He therefore submitted to Shimei's abuse not with self-flagellation, but with dignity and obedience. As a result, he arrived at his destination and refreshed himself.

We see here once again that true saving faith is not a cafeteria plan. We can't pick and choose the moments when we think God is in charge. We don't have God as our co-pilot from whom we take over the controls when things get frightening. David knew that true faith is 24-7. God is either the magnificent, omnipotent, omniscient, infinitely loving creator of the universe or He isn't. If He isn't, you should immediately stop reading the Bible, sleep late on Sundays, make as much money as you can and spend it all on yourself.

If, however, we accept that God is as wonderful and wondrous as the Bible tells us He is, we cannot make Him less than that. We must acknowledge that He is the supreme governor of all things and we must live according to the implications of His infinite sacrifice on our behalf. David knew quite a lot about God's love even before Jesus came and showed what infinite love looks like. If we too can begin to live as God's obedient and faithful children -- even in the very worst of times -- we will arrive at our desination and He will refresh us.

Posted by David Wilks