When Life Turns Dark
When Life Turns Dark
2 Samuel 16-20
“Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has God him. Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.”
The story of Absalom’s attempted usurpation of the throne is one of David’s darkest days. We can only imagine his feelings of betrayal and hurt as his own son drives him out of the capital city of Jerusalem and seeks to take David’s life. In Psalm 3, we find a glimpse into David’s thoughts during this time as he affirms his trust in God and how he experienced the sustaining strength of God. In Psalm 3:2, David, perhaps reflecting upon the curses of Shimei, describes how many were saying that there would be no deliverance from God as he fled the capital. It was undoubtedly the darkest day of David’s life, a nightmare that would only end with the death of Absalom. It was a period filled with political intrigue, manipulation, and betrayal.
We often think that the Christian life will be one of ease and blessing. When we trust in God, we believe that God will protect us from adversity and trials. We read Proverbs 3:5-6 and think that the smooth paths God brings to those who trust Him mean that there will be no problems in life. However, God does not promise us freedom from life's difficulties; instead, He promises to be with us through the trials. The smooth paths are not always free from adversity and problems. Even when we are walking in obedience to Him, cancer still strikes indiscriminately. We still face the loss of a job or the betrayal of friends. We are not always promised freedom from harm.
It would have been easy for David to become angry at His adversaries and even angry at God, to accuse God of being unfaithful to His promise that God had given Him in the covenant of 2 Samuel 7. How could God establish an eternal throne for David when David was driven from Jerusalem? Faith does not mean we do not struggle with doubt, discouragement, or even anger towards God. Faith means we continue to trust and obey God despite our anger, frustration, and trials. This is what David demonstrated through this period of life. Even when his associates demanded revenge, David refrained and instead trusted God for his deliverance.
When we encounter trials, we need to recognize that the difficulties we face in life do not indicate God’s abandonment of us. Instead, there are times when God is refining and building our faith. James affirms this truth in James 1:2-4, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces encouragement. And let endurance have its perfect result, so you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Sometimes God takes us through the valley of despair to lead us to the mountain top of His blessing. When life seems dark, remember that God’s plan is perfect and that even the periods of trial are designed and orchestrated by God to bring us to the place of His blessing.
2 Samuel 16-20
“Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has God him. Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.”
The story of Absalom’s attempted usurpation of the throne is one of David’s darkest days. We can only imagine his feelings of betrayal and hurt as his own son drives him out of the capital city of Jerusalem and seeks to take David’s life. In Psalm 3, we find a glimpse into David’s thoughts during this time as he affirms his trust in God and how he experienced the sustaining strength of God. In Psalm 3:2, David, perhaps reflecting upon the curses of Shimei, describes how many were saying that there would be no deliverance from God as he fled the capital. It was undoubtedly the darkest day of David’s life, a nightmare that would only end with the death of Absalom. It was a period filled with political intrigue, manipulation, and betrayal.
We often think that the Christian life will be one of ease and blessing. When we trust in God, we believe that God will protect us from adversity and trials. We read Proverbs 3:5-6 and think that the smooth paths God brings to those who trust Him mean that there will be no problems in life. However, God does not promise us freedom from life's difficulties; instead, He promises to be with us through the trials. The smooth paths are not always free from adversity and problems. Even when we are walking in obedience to Him, cancer still strikes indiscriminately. We still face the loss of a job or the betrayal of friends. We are not always promised freedom from harm.
It would have been easy for David to become angry at His adversaries and even angry at God, to accuse God of being unfaithful to His promise that God had given Him in the covenant of 2 Samuel 7. How could God establish an eternal throne for David when David was driven from Jerusalem? Faith does not mean we do not struggle with doubt, discouragement, or even anger towards God. Faith means we continue to trust and obey God despite our anger, frustration, and trials. This is what David demonstrated through this period of life. Even when his associates demanded revenge, David refrained and instead trusted God for his deliverance.
When we encounter trials, we need to recognize that the difficulties we face in life do not indicate God’s abandonment of us. Instead, there are times when God is refining and building our faith. James affirms this truth in James 1:2-4, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces encouragement. And let endurance have its perfect result, so you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Sometimes God takes us through the valley of despair to lead us to the mountain top of His blessing. When life seems dark, remember that God’s plan is perfect and that even the periods of trial are designed and orchestrated by God to bring us to the place of His blessing.
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