Living in the Spirit
July 10, 2018
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. –2 Samuel 6:16
Harboring hatred in our hearts only harms ourselves. Michal faced may tragedies. Her father and brother Jonathan were killed in battle, her marriage to David was political not grounded in love, although she was willing to protect him at first. In her day, women had few rights and little recourse if mistreated. There were plenty of good reasons for her bitterness. The same is true of all oppressed people today, but like Michal, it is a choice whether we let the bitterness of oppression overtake us. The alternative is to choose to strive for personal wholeness through our relationships with God. I am not suggesting that people being oppressed be subservient, just take whatever treatment is foisted on us. I am saying we must not let the oppressors recreate us in their image.
Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. Using all his skills in positive ways, he became a leader in Egypt. Eventually saving his whole family from starvation*.
Moses’ mother, Jochebed, was wise and did not want her newborn son slaughtered by the Egyptians. She could have withdrawn and burned with hatred, but she understood a mother’s love for a baby and floated Moses in a reed basket to safety under the care of Pharaoh’s daughter**.
I have no idea what Dorcas’ personal life was like, but she lived in a time when women had few rights. Yet, she chose to live a life filled with love and concern. She made clothing for others***.
Paul was beaten and imprisoned for answering God’s call to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the whole world. He maintained a positive attitude even sang while in prison****.
When bitterness threatens to overtake us, we all need to turn it over to God and let God remold us and make us anew.
Prayer: Lord, free me from any bad reactions I might experience to real or imagined mistreatment so that my responses to life reflect your love not someone else’s hate. Amen.
*See Genesis 37:18-36
**See Exodus 1 & 2
***See Acts 9
****See Acts 16:25