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The Failings Of Man And The Triumphs With God

Lesson Seven: by turtle

No matter the situation you face how you react is important. I know myself, my own reaction at time
have not been the best. However one does meet people that seem to be calm cool and collect all the
time. The royal guards of the palace in England that never seem to show any emotion. I have heard
they have been trained to keep that expression. Not to allow anything break their train of thought
when guarding the palace. American soldiers seem to have that same stance or ability, and I think
most officers do. However I have to wonder if not on certain occasions it hard to control those
emotions. The death of a friend or family member. Political leaders are taught these same things, not
to allow there guard down. Yet in the Bible you see the raw emotions of King David over the loss of
his son. Not only that but his reaction to his brethren that seem to have trouble grasping simple issues
that he lost his son. That any loss to his country saddens him. He gone to war with his brethren
against his enemy. He fought with them and won victories. Yet David at a time of mourning must
show strength and diplomacy despite the lost of close kin. His fellow country men are wondering
where David loyalty truly lie and David quickly puts them in place. Take a look at scripture.

2 Samuel 19:1-23 KJV
(1) And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
(2) And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say
that day how the king was grieved for his son.
(3) And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away
when they flee in battle.
(4) But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O
Absalom, my son, my son!
(5) And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all
thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and
the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
(6) In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that
thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all
we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
(7) Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the
LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto
thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
(8) Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the
king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his
tent.
(9) And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out
of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled
out of the land for Absalom.
(10) And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a
word of bringing the king back?
(11) And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of
Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel
is come to the king, even to his house.
(12) Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back
the king?
(13) And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more
also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
(14) And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent
this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
(15) So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to
conduct the king over Jordan.
(16) And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with
the men of Judah to meet king David.
(17) And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of
Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the
king.
(18) And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought
good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
(19) And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that
which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king
should take it to his heart.
(20) For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of
all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
(21) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this,
because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?
(22) And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be
adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I
am this day king over Israel?
(23) Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

David know doubt was in great pain, but at the same time he spoke the truth to his people. He even
forgave those who were loyal to Absalom, though he should of killed them. He took his fatherly staff
and hooked them with it. He pointed out that if Absalom had won they be cheering over his death. In
fact if the enemy had prevailed then Absalom would be in mourning over his father.

I tell the truth it matters not the winner of a race, but how we choose to run the race in life. Whether
are emotions are on are sleeve or controlled. Are we standing on the right side of fence are se
standing on victories side. Would you forgive your enemy. Many of us hold grudges. Many seek
revenge. Revenge is evil tool and should not be a motivator in life. When one seeks revenge it leads to
destruction. Absalom men learned this.

Hebrews 12:14 KJV
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Proverbs 16:32-33 KJV
(32) He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh
a city.
(33) The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Proverbs 15:18 KJV
(18) A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 10:12 KJV
(12) Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

David choose to love. Next problem you in counter how are you going to react, in love or strife? Are
you going to war with your enemy or are you going to come to peace with them. It is your choice.
What is it.