阅读经文 

有些人令大卫王和他忠心的跟随者陷入困境。

大卫王正在逃难，因为他的儿子押沙龙企图叛变篡位，这个故事就是在这个时候发生的。当大卫和他的臣仆离开耶路撒冷，将要进入另一个城时，有一个前任君王扫罗的亲族出来，他咒骂大卫说：“你这流人血的坏人哪，去吧，去吧！”他又拿石头砍大卫和他的臣仆们。

其中一个大卫的军官因受辱而抱怨，然而大卫却说：“他咒骂，是因耶和华吩咐他说，你要咒骂大卫。如此，谁敢说你为什么这样行呢？……我亲生的儿子尚且寻索我的性命，何况这便雅悯人呢？由他咒骂吧！因为这是耶和华吩咐他的。或者耶和华见我遭难，为我今日被这人咒骂，就施恩与我。”（参撒下 16:10-12）

大卫承认，这一切患难，从押沙龙的谋反到示每的咒骂，说不定是神对他过失的惩罚。大卫知道他做了很多错事，藉着认罪悔改，他深信神必定会赦免和看顾他的。

我们也可以照这样做。尽管我们仍然要面对我们的行为带来的后果，然而神也必定会以祂的赦免和眷顾来叫我们重新得力。

Some people made King David and his loyal followers suffer a lot.

This story takes place while David is fleeing because his son Absalom is trying to take over the throne. As David and his officials leave Jerusalem and approach another town, a relative of the former king, Saul, comes out and curses David, saying, "Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel!" And he pelts David and his officials with stones.

One of David's military leaders complains about this humiliation. But David says, "If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,' who can ask,‘Why do you do this?' …My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today."（see 2 Samuel 16:10-12）

David admitted that all this trouble, from Absalom's treason to Shimei's cursing, could be God's punishment on him for his wrongdoings. David understood he had done many things wrong. And in his repentance, he trusted God to forgive him and care for him.

We can do the same. We may have to face consequences for our actions, but God will also refresh us with his forgiveness and care.