Day 287 – Patience

2 Samuel 16:1 When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

 2 The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?”

  Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”

 3 Then the king said, “Where is your master’s son?”

  Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he stayed in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’”

 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Here, everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”

  Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”

 5 When King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing as he came.

 6 He threw stones at David and at the servants of King David. The people and the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

 7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8 JEHOVAH brought upon you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and JEHOVAH delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. Now you are caught in your evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

 10 However, the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, because JEHOVAH said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then will say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 David said to Abishai and his servants, “See how my son who came from my body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse; for so JEHOVAH has ordered him. 12 It may be that JEHOVAH will look on my affliction, and that JEHOVAH will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”

 13 As David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.

 14 Now the king and the people with him became weary; so, they refreshed themselves there.

 15 Meanwhile Absalom and the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.

 16 It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

 17 Then Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

 18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom JEHOVAH and this people and the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give counsel as to what we should do.”

 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to keep the house; and everyone in Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of those with you will be strong.”

 22 Then they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of Israel.

 23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of Elohiym. Then was the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Sovereign

How do you handle the actions of other people when they try to malign your character? Do you accept it or retaliate?

David accepted what people told him. When one of his men suggested going after the person who cursed him, he told him JEHOVAH told the person to curse him and to do nothing. David expected JEHOVAH to repay him good for the evil the Benjamite did toward him.

When you spend time in JEHOVAH’S Word, reading, studying, and praying about what you read, then you can have patience when people come against you. You know, as David knew, that JEHOVAH will fight for you against Satan.

Yeshuwa told the people that if someone wants to strike you on the cheek, to turn to him the other also. Don’t retaliate when people come against you. Satan wants you to retaliate so he can bring judgment against you and your faith. When you don’t retaliate, he will try to shame you into retaliation as he did with the advice Absalom’s advisor gave him to sleep with David’s concubines.

Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 However, I tell you not to resist an evil person. Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

It was a slap in the face when Absalom slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of everyone in Israel. How often has Satan slapped you in the face? Did you retaliate or did you allow Yeshuwa to take care of the situation?

When someone does or says something to you seek Yeshuwa for the answer to the situation. Pray, seek His face. Don’t let the words and actions of those around you cause you to lose your faith. It’s what Satan wants so he can gloat over your downfall. Don’t give him a reason to gloat. Let Yeshuwa fight for you.

Let’s pray: Father, it’s easy to retaliate when someone says something hurtful. Help me turn to You and wait on You when Satan comes against me. Give me Your patience when people malign my character and try to destroy my faith. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 1 November 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux