Freely Speaking Audio Devotion
Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.
Today’s devotion was written by Marge Webb.
“A man from the same clan of Saul’s came out from there. His name was Shimei, and he cursed
as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones” (II Samuel 16:5 NIV).
My siblings and I have very different ideas about our parents’ dispositions. A couple of my older
sisters thought Daddy was a nice guy, while Mother was mean-spirited and said horrible things to them. If you ask the youngest two kids in the family, they describe Daddy as someone to be feared, and Mother as very nice and self-controlled.
In 1929, my mom’s dad died, and she was forced to drop out of college to work. However, by
age 19, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Tulsa University and a master’s degree from OU.
She raised six kids, taught French at the local high school, and for thirteen years, dealt with
cancer. But through all of life’s challenges, the strongest language she used when she got upset
was a phrase, “ding bust it.”
The story in II Samuel about Shimei cursing at David and throwing stones at him is thought-
provoking. Why would Shimei approach David, knowing his status and power?
The same David who killed Goliath with a slingshot now had a massive army behind him. Even Abishai, David’s nephew and great military warrior, said, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord and king? Let me go over and cut off his head” (II Samuel 16:9).
David recognized that God had allowed this confrontation and commanded his army to leave
Shimei alone. He declared that the Lord will see my distress and repay this evil with good.
No wonder God declared David a man after God’s own heart. The self-control he exhibited
would not have been the popular choice at the time. I don’t know if I would have that kind of
patient restraint!
How do you react when people are hurling insults? I think about my mom and David’s Holy
example of self-control, and it encourages me to lean on God before I respond.
Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OHSOFREE Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com.