When the Lord’s ways are hidden
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
For I am poor and needy. Psalm 86:1
Read 2 Samuel 16:5—14
Because I have read the story I know that David did not shed Saul’s blood. He had the opportunity, at least twice. But he saw Saul as God’s anointed, and he left the matter to God. So here, he could with a word to the right or to the left have silenced Shimei for good. He did not. He left the matter to God. He was quite open to the possibility that this poorly informed, partisan, prejudiced hothead may even have been speaking prophetically, a word from the Lord. I think he was half on that man’s side against himself. I, too, admire courage as a good in itself, even ill-informed courage. And I admire loyalty. Shimei had that. The thing about David’s story that so relates to my own life experience is that so much of this life has to be negotiated faithfully without the will and hand and leading of God being clear-cut. There’s every chance I’ve had that experience today.
Lord God of history, the God who chose Israel, the God who anointed David and promised him a kingdom, who entered your own history by sending your Son who would be called Son of David, you know how I call myself a Christian. I say I have faith in you. I say that you are my God. Yet each day situations develop. I do not always see your hand. I do not always follow your clear way. I do not always see it. All this was probably so in the day I have just lived. So I thank you for David. In him you give me a story. And the story of my life echoes his. Give me a holy hesitancy, to wait for your way to be worked out. Let me remain faithful to you and free from harming others when I cannot see.