Good Return

The name of the show is “Hogs Gone Wild,” and get this – I watched it!  Mr. Bill hunts wild hogs so [naturally] he enjoys watching the show.  Maybe it was too late and I was just too tired to move from my comfy chair but I actually found the instinctive behavior of these wild animals pretty interesting, and the hour passed fairly quickly.  I’m scaring myself!

Perhaps it’s true “the world’s smiles are more dangerous than its frowns.”  Mortal men are such foolish creatures, evermore looking for approval from one another!  Second Samuel 16 gives an interesting contrast of two characters who challenged King David in exile.  David came face-to-face with the pretentious (false) flattery of Ziba (servant to Mephibosheth, Saul’s son) and the cursing & rock-throwing tantrum of Shimei (cousin to Saul).  David’s gracious and patient reply is noteworthy, “Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” (16:12)  Are we not reminded of The Savior who prayed for those who reviled and crucified Him!  Oh, how we ache for God to strike against those who do evil against us – right here, right now, the right way!  We long for some illusionary reward of exoneration!  It’s well for us, however, that men are not our judges but rather He Who judges in truth and righteousness.  As David found comfort in his time of affliction, so must we die to self [those wild & instinctive behaviors] to know Sovereign God judges and rightly repays all service and sufferings unto Him.  It’s the best return we can know!