有些人令大卫王和他忠心的跟随者陷入困境。
大卫王正在逃难，因为他的儿子押沙龙企图叛变篡位，这个故事就是在这个时候发生的。当大卫和他的臣仆离开耶路撒冷、将要进入另一个城时，有一个前任君王扫罗的亲族出来，他咒骂大卫说：“你这流人血的坏人哪，去吧，去吧！”他又拿石头砍大卫和他的臣仆们。
其中一个大卫的军官因受辱而抱怨，然而大卫却说：“他咒骂，是因耶和华吩咐他说：‘你要咒骂大卫。’如此，谁敢说你为什么这样行呢？ … 我亲生的儿子尚且寻索我的性命，何况这便雅悯人呢？由他咒骂吧！因为这是耶和华吩咐他的。或者耶和华见我遭难，为我今日被这人咒骂，就施恩与我。”
大卫承认，这一切患难，从押沙龙的谋反到示每的咒骂，说不定是神对他的过失的惩罚。大卫知道他做了很多错事，藉着认罪悔改，他深信神必定会赦免和看顾他的。
我们也可以照这样做。尽管我们仍然要面对我们的行为带来的后果，然而神也必定会以衪的赦免和眷顾来叫我们重新得力。
主啊，求你以你的智慧引领我们，叫我们能够成为世上的盐和光。我们虽然毫不完全，然而求你帮助我们指引人归向你。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
撒母耳记下 16:5-14
5大卫王到了巴户琳，见有一个人出来，是扫罗族基拉的儿子，名叫示每。他一面走一面咒骂，
6又拿石头砍大卫王和王的臣仆。众民和勇士都在王的左右。
7示每咒骂说：“你这流人血的坏人哪，去吧，去吧！
8你流扫罗全家的血，接续他做王。耶和华把这罪归在你身上，将这国交给你儿子押沙龙。现在你自取其祸，因为你是流人血的人！”
9洗鲁雅的儿子亚比筛对王说：“这死狗岂可咒骂我主我王呢？求你容我过去，割下他的头来！”
10王说：“洗鲁雅的儿子，我与你们有何关涉呢？他咒骂是因耶和华吩咐他说：‘你要咒骂大卫。’如此，谁敢说你为什么这样行呢？”
11大卫又对亚比筛和众臣仆说：“我亲生的儿子尚且寻索我的性命，何况这便雅悯人呢？由他咒骂吧！因为这是耶和华吩咐他的。
12或者耶和华见我遭难，为我今日被这人咒骂，就施恩于我。”
13于是大卫和跟随他的人往前行走。示每在大卫对面山坡，一面行走一面咒骂，又拿石头砍他，拿土扬他。
14王和跟随他的众人疲疲乏乏地到了一个地方，就在那里歇息歇息。
"As he cursed, Shimei said, 'Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel!'" - 2 Samuel 16:7
Some people made King David and his loyal followers suffer a lot.
This story takes place while David is fleeing because his son Absalom is trying to take over the throne. As David and his officials leave Jerusalem and approach another town, a relative of the former king, Saul, comes out and curses David, saying, "Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel!" And he pelts David and his officials with stones.
One of David's military leaders complains about this humiliation. But David says, "If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?' . . . My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today."
David admitted that all this trouble, from Absalom's treason to Shimei's cursing, could be God's punishment on him for his wrongdoings. David understood he had done many things wrong. And in his repentance, he trusted God to forgive him and care for him.
We can do the same. We may have to face consequences for our actions, but God will also refresh us with his forgiveness and care.
Lord, guide us with your wisdom to be like salt and light in this world. We are far from perfect, but help us to point others to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
