March 21, 2024 - 2 Samuel 18-22

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”  That’s the question asked by Rabbi Harold Kushner in his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People.  Of course, we could take issue with the notion that any of us are truly good in and of ourselves.  But that issue of original sin was not the topic of the book.  The rabbi struggled with the fact that good people often have the worst things happen to them (He had lost his son.).  Well, we can certainly say of David that he was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) and, also acknowledge that his life was full of tragedy.  David mourns the death of his son, Absalom.  He faced rebellion at the hand of Shimei, also by Sheba.  There were battles, so many battles!  But David could sing.  And sing he did!  “And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.  He said, ‘The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior’” (22:1-3).  We should sing, also!

I will call upon the Lord,

who is worthy to be praised.

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock

and let the God of my salvation be exalted!

O magnify the Lord,

who is worthy to be praised.

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Let us praise the Lord of Lords,

praise Him now and evermore.

Praise the Father, Son and the Spirit.   -- Michael O'Shields, 1981