Memo 1074: A Way of Life

Have you ever done good but it wasn't received and perhaps even misunderstood? Have you yearned for peace but find yourself in constant warfare? If you answered yes to either question, then once again you can learn from David's life in this week's lesson of how to sit on the throne God has for you. Let's get started.

EVIL FOR GOOD

David was in a benevolent mood, having just blessed Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. We read,

In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father (2 Samuel 10:1-2a).

However, the king's son did not respond well to David's expression of sympathy:

When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away (2 Samuel 10:2b-4).

There are two lessons to learn from this story. The first is that your kindness can't be based on the response of others. Jesus taught us this on several occasions, this being one of them:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48).

However, the action by the Ammonites wasn't just a personal offense, but rather a matter of national security. So even though David had been enjoying a season of peace, it was time to go to war, for war is not an event for us as believers but rather a way of life.

CONSTANT WAR

It's ironic we are the people of the God of Peace but find ourselves experiencing so much opposition and spiritual warfare. The Bible tells us not to grow weary because our tendency is to do just that: give up because the opposition is intense and ongoing. This is how our existence as believers is described in Revelation 12:13-17:

When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

When David's men returned, he marshaled his troops and attacked his enemies as they assembled against Israel. If you want to hold on to what God has given you, you must be willing to fight as often as needed. That involves faith and prayer, but also taking actions designed to stand against the forces that want to steal, kill, or destroy what God has given you. God will empower you as you fight, but He wants you to be involved in the process so you can learn and grow. You can't be passive in the face of your enemies.

Are you tired? Have you considered giving up? Have you underestimated your spiritual opposition and what it will take for you to live in the promise of God? If you answer yes to any of those questions, then take courage and inspiration from David's example and fight for what God has given you. At the same time, don't be bitter or angry, remembering that kindness and forgiveness are the characteristics you are to be known for. Represent God well, but also don't stand for the enemies of God trying to take what is rightfully yours. Have a blessed week.