RECEIVE ADVERSITY IN HUMILITY

By Serah Mechane:

 Shimei was a distant relative of the former King Saul and he resented David for replacing the dynasty of Saul. Shimei had this heart against David for a long time, but he could only show it when David was down and out, running away from his son Absalom, Shimei "Came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.........." 2 Samuel 16:6-8 NKJV Bible. Shimei was wrong in his accusations to David, because David actually treated Saul and his family with great love and graciousness and none of this came upon David was because of what he did to Saul or Saul's family. There are always people like Shimei who are ready to rejoice when a leader falls. So this morning JESUS is addressing someone out there that, when you face adversity receive it in humility, let people rejoice over your downfall, let them criticize you, let them analyze you, let them say all sorts of things to you, insult you, receive all in humility, etc. because the Bible says; "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" Prov.24:10 KJV Bible. Persecution will come, adversity will come, pain and suffering will come, but hold your peace, because "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" 2 Cor.4:8-9 KJV Bible. Shimei could not destroy David even though he was down, so hold your peace. Nevertheless, the mighty men surrounding David were more than ready to kill Shimei in an instant. "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" 2 Samuel 16:9 NKJV Bible. David could take this fellow's head off in a moment and yet he said, "Let him alone. Let him curse" verse 11. And this makes a splendid example, for if you can revenge yourself, DON'T, if you could do it as easily as open your hand, keep it shut, if one bitter word could end the argument, ask for grace to spare that bitter word. David didn't try to shut up Shimei, he didn't close his ears to unpleasant or critical words. David was willing to hear what GOD might say to him through a cursing critic, David let Shimei speak because he was not a bloodthirsty man. Ironically, if David was the kind of man Shimei said he was, Shimei would be dead, so be like David who received adversity in humility. Therefore "The GOD of all grace, Who hath called us unto HIS eternal glory by CHRIST JESUS, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you" says the HOLY SPIRIT, 1 Peter 5:10 KJV Bible. Shalom and free to Share.