Forgiven, but cursed!

Psalm 103:3,12 NLT

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. [12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

We read how far David fell in his life.

From the mountain top of slaying Goliath to the depths of depravity in adultery and murder, his life was hallmarked by the falleness with which we all must deal.

Psalm 51 is David's prayer for mercy after being confronted with his own guilt by the prophet Nathan.

David plumbed the depths of guilt and then was purged and totally forgiven by the Lord as he related in Psalm 103.

He was wonderfully forgiven and God removed his sin as far as the east is from the west!

Yet, even if the Lord forgives us, other people (along with Satan) will never cease to remind us of our past sins.

It's something we all must face.

2 Samuel 16:5-8 NLT

As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul's family. [6] He threw stones at the king and the king's officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. [7] "Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!" he shouted at David. [8] "The LORD is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul's clan. You stole his throne, and now the LORD has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!"

Talk about kicking someone when they're down!

Ouch! Some of Shimei's accusations were true and some were not. Yes, David was a murderer (of Uriah), but he didn't steal Saul's throne, far from it. David was anointed by God to be king.

Man's and Satan's accusations always contain some grain of truth which makes them particularly hard to bear and shake off.

David's response is remarkable:

2 Samuel 16:9-13 NLT

"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?" Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. "Let me go over and cut off his head!" [10] "No!" the king said. "Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the LORD has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?" [11] Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn't this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it. [12] And perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today." [13] So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.

You and I may have to put up with all sorts of insults and curses, some deserved, some not.

It's vital to be rooted and grounded in the forgiveness flowing from Jesus at the Cross. Through His Precious Blood we can find that total cleansing and release from past sins.

So, in that assurance, we are able to let people curse us. If it's from God, learn the lesson, if not it will rebound back to where it belongs.

Romans 12:19-21 NLT

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD. [20] Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." [21] Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.