Monday, April 22, 2024

          The death of King David was a momentous occasion for Israel.  The one who had been hailed, honored and feted for years had finally died.  Most of us would like to live and die well.  We would like to leave behind a good legacy for those who come after us to follow.  Some people often think about and plan the kind of memories and legacy that they wish to leave after they have departed.  A good legacy is not an automatically guaranteed thing.  At the end of his life, David issued some harsh instructions that were grounded in retaliation and retribution. 
            In I Kings 2, the dying king charged his soon-to-be-king son, Solomon, to deal with some lingering enemies or adversaries.  For example, we read, “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace” (1 Kings 2:5-6).  Here was David issuing orders from his death to his son to take vengeance.  It was an order for a hit on an enemy.  A bit later we read, “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood” (1 Kings 2:8-9).
            These orders reveal a bit of resentment and bitterness in David’s life.  Lingering feelings of resentment and bitterness will take us to some dangerous places.  If you wrestle with bitterness, it may be time to apply the grace of God to that bitterness.  Grace works wherever it is tried and applied.  No one is immune to resentment.  We can all fight that battle.  Bitterness can sink its deadly teeth into almost anyone.  Envy and jealousy can often be siblings to resentment or bitterness.  They tend to travel together.  At the basis of these sinful feelings is the idea that God is not going to take care of us or that God may not deal with the harsh enemies we see or experience.  These feelings can even come from the sense that others may be blessed in disproportionately greater ways or enjoy something that we do not have.
            Resentment could be a symptom that your walk with the Lord has slowed down or crept to a halt.  Bitterness could mean that you are holding on to hard feelings, anger and settling scores.  Our minds and hearts can ache because of these feelings that we willingly hold on to and entertain.  If someone like David, a man after God’s own heart, could struggle with resentment, so can we.  If resentment is driving the car of your life, it will not carry you to a good destination.  If bitterness is the windshield of your life, you will forever feel surly and sullen.  We can trust the injustices that we experience to the Lord.  Release those feelings to Him.  Let Him be the one who determines what recompense may look like.  When it comes to jealousy, rest easy in knowing that God is fully aware of your needs and has promised to meet them.  We will lack for nothing (see the assuring words of Psalm 23.  David probably should have read his own words.)  The Bible teaches us to be quick to forgive, to pray for enemies, to make peace and not to let the sun go down on our anger.  Stoking anger with resentment and bitterness is a wretched way to live.  You will find your life to be more frustrating and riddled with disappointment.  By contrast, Jesus forgave those who crucified Him while He was dying on the cross.  He restored the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest, after an angry and defensive Peter cut the ear from the man’s head while trying to prevent Jesus’ arrest. 
            Grace is far better than judgment.  Peace is preferable to contention and conflict.  Making amends is more Christlike than making war.  Forgiveness carries far more power and influence than holding on to bitter feelings.  Resentful ways can be transformed by praying for God to change your heart and mind.  As you live, be mindful of the legacy that you leave behind.  Do not let your life and testimony become pock-marked by bitterness and acrimony.  May God encourage you as you live in His ways!  Remember you can share our worship any time at YouTube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.  Have a great Monday!