Standing in The Face of Adversity.

Background

In 2 Sam 11, David sinned with Bathsheba, he tried to cover up his sin and ended up killing Uriah. What David did displeased God (2 Sam 11:27). God sent Nathan the prophet to rebuke David. God said to David in 2 Sam 12:11, “…out of your household I will bring calamity”. In Chapters 13 & 14 so much happened in David’s household touching on Amnon, Tamar and Absalom. In Chapter 15 Absalom wanted to overthrow his father’s government (coup).

Lessons to help us navigate through our adversities

1. Adversity can spring from our own sins.

Job was a righteous man who suffered. However, it’s not all suffering people who are righteous. For instance: In John 5:14, Jesus told the man healed at the pool of Bethesda to stop sinning or something worse may happen to him. It means his illness was associated with his sins. In 2 Sam 21 God revealed to David that the famine came because of the blood that Saul shed when he killed the Gibeonites. Saul had broken the covenant that Israel made with the Gibeonites in the time of Joshua.

When you are going through adversity look into your life and inquire of the Lord if sin is involved and repent thereof (Psa 139:23-24).

2. We should always accept the correction and discipline of the Lord.

Heb 12:4-6 says that the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. There will be periods of discipline for us to become more Christ-like. God will discipline us because He loves us and accepts us as His sons. For that reason, He will not punish us to destroy us but to make us more like Him. Romans 8:28- God causes all things, even our adversities, work together for our good.

3. We should always maintain hope in the goodness and the sovereignty of God.

It was embarrassing for David to flee from Jerusalem by foot, or perhaps by a donkey/horse. Much as he was fleeing he kept his hope in God and said , “if it pleases God, He is going to bring me back”.  Psalm 27:13-14 reminds us to keep our hope alive. The adversities are meant to develop patience and character in us (James 1:2-4, Rom 5:3-5).

4. God will always set up people to support you.

Hushai,  Ziba, Joab, Abishai, Zadok, Abiathar among others were set up by God to help David in his time of adversity. Job 5:17-18 tells us that God, even when He is punishing, He does it with a purpose. God will send people to support you. Other times God will use us to support others in their time of adversity. Don’t hesitate to help people out.

5. Don’t hold grudges against the people who will try to bring you down.

Ahithophel, Mephiboseth and Shimei took their stand against the King. In your time of adversity, there are people who will talk or do something to bring you down. Much as it hurts, don’t hold grudges against such people. David did not kill Shimei nor Mephiboseth on account of the wrongs they did to him.

Conclusion

Romans 8:31-32 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?