Introduction

Good day to all! Let us examine the sixteenth chapter of 2 Samuel. Over the years, we have accumulated a substantial collection of Bible study materials. A distinct characteristic of Chinese Mingding Destiny is its frequent upgrades. Some may ask, Teacher, you explained it one way before, why is it different now? That is because my understanding was not as thorough then, but now I have a clearer and more advanced grasp. Therefore, do not assume that everything I say is absolute truth; it is merely my perspective. I encourage everyone to diligently read the original text of the Bible and contemplate it deeply.

In my logical framework, I do not believe that attending lessons or classes alone leads to profound learning. While learning from classes is possible, the most crucial knowledge comes from self-study. In our generation, if you aspire to learn, the possibilities are endless because there is a wealth of information available. We must digest and comprehend this information thoroughly this is true learning. It is about diligent study and striving for improvement, not merely attending classes.

Learning is an active process, whereas listening to lectures or watching television is passive. Self-directed study is active. If you ask me how to become a top student, I would advise diligent study and continuous improvement. This is an active endeavor. Only through active learning can one grasp the underlying logic; without comprehension, understanding is impossible. Simply listening may seem beneficial, but ultimately, it may lead to nothing. This is why I say that mediocre students are made by passively attending classes, while high achievers are made by actively studying. We must all cultivate a habit of proactive learning.

The sixteenth chapter of 2 Samuel differs from my previous interpretation. I previously focused on others, which was incorrect; the focus should be on David. The fundamental principle of Bible study is to focus on the protagonist, not others. What kind of person was David? Whether encountering grateful individuals or those who cursed and pelted him with stones, he believed that God was in control. The theme of this chapter, based on the original text, is: All things are commanded by God.

Everything a Person Encounters in Life is Governed by God

Without this logic, you cannot walk this path. You thank God for the good things, but you resent Him for the bad, asking why things are the way they are. Why do you keep asking why? You do not believe that everything comes from God. Without God's permission, not a single hair falls from your head. If you wake up to find hair on your pillow, it is because God has commanded it. If someone mistreats you and disregards your humanity, it is also by God's command. Now we must ask: Why is this commanded by God? If we do not understand this, we are in trouble.

Some people argue whenever they face difficulties, debating endlessly. I get annoyed and ask: Who is in control, God or the devil? It seems that they believe they are in control. They control themselves, and no one else has authority over them neither God nor the devil. Consequently, they do not encounter favorable circumstances. Everything that a person encounters in life is governed by God. This was David's faith, and the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well.

Have you all learned this? Among the people I have met, few possess this faith. They thank God for good things and share testimonies, but rarely do I hear testimonies like, Teacher, I thank God that someone cursed me on the street, because God commanded him to. Do you hear such testimonies? It is always about how their boss praised them or gave them a raise.

But David was not like that. David's thinking was profound! When someone cursed him, he said, Let them curse! It is God who commanded them. David did not avenge himself! If you have not reached David's level, you are in control. And what can you control? Only inviting demons and more demons. It is difficult to dismantle the logic within a person! Different people, different fates. I do not control my destiny God does! That is why I have little pressure.

Sometimes I get anxious, but it is useless! When I am ministering, I feel troubled, it would be a lie to say otherwise. But I always find comfort in the phrase: All things are governed by God! What should one do when faced with unwanted events? If that person is detestable to God, I find it hard to bless him, because it is God's arrangement. We must understand that without God’s permission, not a single hair will fall from a person’s head.

When David lost his throne, his response was positive: It is good that the throne is gone! Different people, different faces; different people betting on different individuals. Observe closely: When you are king, everyone treats you well, because you are the king. But when you are deposed, look at the faces of those around you this is the more truthful reality. In times of adversity, you see who your true friends are. If you are not friends in times of prosperity, how much less in times of adversity?

Those Who are Grateful

In times of adversity, there are always some who are grateful to you. Who commanded this? God did, and you must thank God! Do you all know who Ziba is? Ziba was the servant of Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. Ziba worked as a steward in Saul's household and later embezzled Saul's family property. David was a very gracious person, he did not kill Ziba, but instead instructed him to continue caring for Mephibosheth.

Ziba had to return the embezzled property of Saul's family to Mephibosheth. Ziba had struggled to seize the property, and now under David's order, he had to return it to the original owner. How vexing! But David arranged for him to continue working as Mephibosheth's steward. Being a chief steward in a wealthy household still came with a high salary. Ziba was grateful because David provided him with a good job.

When David had passed a little beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. (2 Samuel 16:1)

David saw this and wondered what it meant, thinking, Is Ziba trying to sell these?

The king said to Ziba, Why have you brought these? Ziba answered, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who become faint in the wilderness. (2 Samuel 16:2)

Ziba was thoughtful. David, in his current situation, was still pondering: This Ziba, who embezzled Saul's family's property also raised many sons and hired many workers. Ziba is a man with vision, placing his bets on David. This investment is definitely correct, he is not playing games.

If you are not smart, can you work well as a steward in the household of a powerful person? Impossible. Ziba saw David fleeing in adversity did he know David would fall into such a state? He knew, because God has ordained that the sword would not depart from David's house. Later, David wrote Psalm 51, which the entire nation of Israel read, as if reading a central government document. They hummed and sang it, even setting it to music. We have even sung this song written by David.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

David knew that he had done something shameful. Ziba, seeing David in adversity, was grateful for the stewardship job David had given him. Was there an element of betting in this gratitude? Yes! Without gratitude, it would be a bit unreasonable. Although there was an element of gambling, there was also gratitude. Giving these things to David posed risks; if Absalom discovered it, Ziba would lose his head.

Ziba was quite formidable! Very bold! Can someone who embezzles be timid? He was clever, having calculated and prepared for all these risks ahead of time. If arrested and executed, he would shift the blame to his master, Mephibosheth, absolving himself of any responsibility. If he was not caught, he would have placed his bets correctly, and David would surely treat him kindly. This fellow was not only clever but also quite cunning! So we must learn from Ziba's wisdom.

Then the king asked, Where is your master's son? Ziba said to him, He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me.' (2 Samuel 16:3)

Mephibosheth was still in Jerusalem, a situation somewhat like that of the last emperor. Ziba's words to David about Mephibosheth were pure fabrication. Ziba was truly capable of inventing stories! In truth, Mephibosheth had no such aspirations. Ziba was fabricating lies to take all the credit for himself, wrongly accusing his master. Despite the injustice, David, being in flight, could not properly investigate the matter.

Do you all know the true story behind this? Later, David learned that Mephibosheth had not said such things. Because Mephibosheth was lame, and there was no one to help him, Ziba left Mephibosheth to bring gifts to David. This caused David to wrongly accuse Mephibosheth. Because David had already promised Ziba all of Saul's family's property, David later decided to have Ziba and Mephibosheth divide the property equally. As you can see, Ziba's investment yielded significant returns!

After losing his throne, David encountered all sorts of people. His reaction was: It is normal for some to be ungrateful; for those who are grateful, thank God! All of these are commanded by God, and God is still gracious to me. We should emulate David in dealing with various situations, being grateful individuals, and thanking the Lord! But do not be inflexible. For example, if a family is hosting a dinner party and the father-in-law helps by personally cooking many delicious dishes such as yellow croaker, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, braised pork, and Northeastern stew.

After the meal is prepared, the son-in-law begins to lead a prayer, which lasts for over ten minutes, and the food becomes cold. He keeps thanking the Lord! The father-in-law becomes unhappy: I made all these dishes, and you are thanking the Lord? Do not be inflexible, thanking the Lord in the wrong situation can be annoying. Once, a foolish young man learned from me the saying, Who are my mother and my brothers? Then, when he returned home, his mother called him, Son, come eat. He replied, Who is my mother and my brothers? This is foolish! Do not learn this!

Those Who Curse

David's greatness lies in his belief that all things are arranged by God, and all are God's grace.

When King David came to Bahurim, there was a man coming out from there, of the family of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera; he came out cursing continually as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And this is what Shimei said when he cursed: “Get out, get out, you bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man.” (2 Samuel 16:5-8)

Previously, when David was king, Shimei held some official position, not perhaps in the first or second rank, but at least a sixth or seventh-grade office. But now that David had lost his throne, he began to curse David. Consequently, some wanted to stand up for David:

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, please, and take off his head!” (2 Samuel 16:9)

Who was Abishai? He was like Guan Gong, highly skilled in martial arts, able to defeat Shimei with ease. But at this point, King David became angry:

But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” (2 Samuel 16:10)

The logic in David's words is strange, yet it is a godly logic, which we must learn. If you do not learn it, you are a Christian in name only. Few Christians understand this logic. If God does not permit it, not a single hair will fall from your head. Could it be that God cannot control someone cursing you? If you say, God, look at him cursing me, I want to complain; God, in your name, I curse him. This will not work effectively, because that is not how God operates. You must understand where this matter comes from.

I have a logic based on what I call the shit theory. If someone glares at me, I'd say, Glare away! If someone calls me a 'scoundrel,' I'd say, I am the shit of a scoundrel. That person would be immediately taken aback. If someone said that to you, you'd be incensed, but I am resilient, because my shit theory is effective. The person who insults me goes home and fumes in front of the mirror, You're useless! You can't even deliver a good insult. If people can learn the shit theory, they will be formidable in this life! You rarely hear me asking, Why would someone say such things to me?

The stories I share are intended to impart a lesson: Do not kick a man when he is down. People like Shimei are always eagerly waiting for David to be overthrown. They fail to grasp the spiritual logic and end up making foolish mistakes. But Ziba was clever in his actions, so he received half of Saul's property because he placed his bet correctly. Let us see what David says.

It may be that the Lord will look upon my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust.(2 Samuel 16:12-13)

Why would God show favour to David? Because he does not retaliate when cursed, nor does he seek vengeance for himself. Know that God favours people like this. Some people have terrible tempers, like someone with rotten feet. People with such temperaments are insensitive. I see some among us who immediately sulk and speak with a harsh tone. I lament: This person is truly foolish. Despite training, they remain the same, causing distress! I find it hard to understand how one can be so foolish, yet consider themselves clever.

We must have a Godly logic. If someone curses me, I will pretend not to hear and just smile it away. If there are those among us with poor mother-in-law relationships, such people will find it hard to receive grace from God. Some sisters say, Teacher, it's because you don't encounter such situations, so you don't understand. I am a man; of course I won't encounter it. But if you do, what should you do? Either be strong enough to resolve it, or quietly receive God's grace. Do not be surprised if someone curses you; do not be surprised if someone wrongs you; do not be surprised if someone says a few cutting remarks. Because people are narrow-minded, and their sense of envy emerges. They forget that God is in control, and these things are brought on by our own ignorance.

David was driven from his throne because a curse never left his household, and the sword never left his household. His own son took up the sword to seize the throne, and he was acutely aware that he reaps what he sows. Therefore, David could calmly accept these events. He said: Perhaps because I received curses and did not retaliate, God will show favor to me. Later, God did indeed show favor to David, and he soon returned to be king. When David returned as king, Ziba was the happiest person.

Shimei also came before David with a thousand men, begging David to forgive his sin because many wanted to kill him. But David did not kill him. What was the point of killing him? Killing him would be of no use. The ones to fear are the clever ones like Absalom. If someone says harsh things to you, learn from David and be a wise person, with no need to be angry. If you have not done what David did, you can choose to deal with it cleverly.

There Are Also Betrayals

Ahithophel betrayed David; he was also an official in the court. After David left, he went to join Absalom and became his advisor. Did David say to him, I treated you so well, why did you do this to me? No. David also treated Ahithophel well. Look at the advice Ahithophel gave:

Now in those days the advice that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.(2 Samuel 16:23)

This Ahithophel was virtually Pang Tong reborn, Zhuge Liang reincarnated, Sima Yi transported. It was as if Sima Yi had transmigrated into Ahithophel. With a furrow of his brow, a plan came to mind; with a calculation, Ahithophel's advice was sought as if one sought the word of God. Absalom also knew Ahithophel was formidable, for his advice to David and to Absalom was always thus.

Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened. (2 Samuel 16:21)

What sort of advice is this? It is to have Absalom set up a stage, bring all his father's concubines onto the stage, and on the count of 1, 2, 3, everyone pulls down their pants together. I was inclined to curse when I heard it. I thought, Ahithophel's advice to David back then was probably similar! Yet Absalom truly pulled down his pants, and many Israelites were watching below. I greatly lamented that David even had such an advisor under his command. Do you think that the idea of having David write a letter to Joab to have Uriah killed could have been Ahithophel's idea? I think there is a high probability.

Why do I say so? Let me analyze it for you. David killed Uriah, and later, after being disciplined by God, he deeply repented. Ahithophel lost favor in David's eyes. David no longer sought Ahithophel's advice and began to greatly dislike him. Because Ahithophel made a significantly bad contribution here. David arose only after sunset to arise and saw a woman bathing. At this time, Ahithophel was by David's side. We know nothing of Ahithophel's actions behind David. But why did Ahithophel join Absalom? Because he was no longer favored by David, spending his days benched, so he joined Absalom.

Ahithophel betrayed David. If David had killed him then, there would have been no matter of him joining Absalom. But David was formidable; you do not see him regretting not killing Ahithophel. But many among us like to take regret pills: Ah! Why didn't I do this or that back then! In reality, God is in control.

Whatever one's fate, so shall one live. If you are meant to live out God's glory, then do so; if not, then so be it! One must have faith, believe in oneself, and know what one must do. David had this logic, so he had no reaction to Ahithophel's betrayal. Think about it, why shouldn't people betray him? Instead, he understands it. David not only understands Ahithophel's actions but also understands Shimei's actions. David said:

And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, See, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me good for his cursing this day. (2 Samuel 16:11-12)

Because David accepted it in his heart, believing he indeed committed sin, indeed took Saul's throne, indeed Absalom drove him from the throne, and indeed he committed the sin of shedding blood, killing Uriah. Therefore, when Shimei cursed David, because he had accepted it in his heart, he could face it with equanimity.

Who Dare Say, Why Have You Done So?

Do you know where this phrase comes from? It is from David's conversation with Abishai.

And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?' (2 Samuel 16:10)

David's mind is very clear: Who would dare say, Why have you done so? If you are a formidable and clever person, you will accept these words. You won't say, Why do you treat me this way? You'll find that I never say these words, nor do I really argue for anything myself, but now I want to claim some credit for myself.

For example, some team leaders among us are placed in their positions for training because they are not mature enough, and you happen to be the trainee. You will find that the team leader often says, Why don't you write a report? Do you look down on me? It's bad to think that way. There is no why; everything is under God's control. Why does the trainee treat you like that? You need to know your own limitations; you can't subdue people, and they don't admire you.

Have you noticed that I rarely preach about submission? Why should people submit to me, respect me, and see me as someone significant? This is the so-called shit theory. Remember never to say such things in the future. Did David say, Why have you done so? No. If you say that, you will definitely feel bad afterward. Previously, someone came among us, and when he was very down on his luck, I trained him, enabling him to find a job. Later, he deliberately opposed me. I didn't ask him, Why do you do this? Because behind these things are God's marvellous works. In the future, don't say such things either, because it is the approach of a wise person.

When I was working, I never asked my boss to increase my salary, but my salary increased very quickly. Later, a sister had her husband ask the boss why he hadn't given her a raise. Have any of you asked your boss to give you a raise? If so, there might be a problem. If they are willing to show you favor, they will; if they are not willing to show you favor, they won't! Put all your energy into improving your value or producing a large number of chips, and they will treat you as a talent.

Or That The Lord Will Look On My Affliction And Repay Me With Good

And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, See, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me good for his cursing this day. (2 Samuel 16:11-12)

David's wisdom is truly formidable. He said, Perhaps God will show favor to me because of this matter. Why did Shimei come to curse David? Because God sent Shimei to test David. If you don't know your own limitations, everything fails. God wants to see if you truly trust in Him. But Shimei was quite silly, doing foolish things when told, just like Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was also foolish.

Brothers and sisters, we often undergo many trials, but have you learned the lessons? All things are lessons. If you haven't learned the lessons, it means you haven't been tempered enough, you are still too raw, and you don't measure up. If someone says something to you, and you react at the same level, grabbing their collar if they grab yours, pulling their hair if they pull yours, then you have problems.

This chapter contains deep lessons; everyone must learn them well. David is too clever. If I could have even a quarter of David's wisdom, that would be enough. In the end, did God show favor to David? Yes. If David had said, Abishai, go and cut off Shimei's head, what would have been the result? David would have forever lost the throne and would not have been able to return to Jerusalem as king.

When I experienced these lessons, even though my reaction was slow, I gradually figured them out. Thank God! To this day, God has shown favor to me. I hope that in the days to come, we can all run together on the path that pleases God. This is no joke. The moment I scheme for personal gain, argue for myself, or don't believe that God is in control, everything fails. Brothers and sisters, learn well from David. Because of this one incident, David returned to be king six months later. This is called a government in exile.

When I read the Book of Samuel, I felt that I hadn't fully absorbed many things, but this chapter is well-themed. Do you truly believe that this is what God has commanded? Don't ask why. Adjust and transform yourself well, and you will surely become an exceedingly wise person who is after God's own heart, elevated above all the people of the world.

May God bless everyone!