When God Curses

571 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 16:10b-11, “ So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David.' Who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'" 11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, "See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. (2 Sam 16:10b,11) David is convinced that the Lord has ordered Shimei to utter these curse words against him. Wait a minute. God “orders” someone to curse another? What is that all about? In this particular instance, God has instructed Shimei to curse David for the purpose of reminding him of his past failures with Bathsheba, Uriah, Amnon, and Absalom. In short, David is telling his men, “I've got it coming.” This is an earmark of repentance! Ps 119:21 says, “You rebuke the proud-the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments.” David had strayed and these events that were unfolding in his life served as reminders of what Nathan had told him back in 2Sa 12:10 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' We should never forget the curses that God has pronounced against sinners. Ga 3:10 says, “for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." “Everyone? All things? Let that sink in. This verse in Galatians, is Shimei following the orders of God, throwing stones at you and I, cursing us, reminding us that we all deserve to be cursed. But then beloved, jump ahead to Ga 3:13 and believe it! “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), God curses sin! But Jesus became that curse for us when He died on a cross on Calvary. So be like David and let the curse of God ring in your ears reminding you of the penalty for sin, then look to Jesus, receive Him as your Lord and Savior and have that curse AND penalty removed. Jesus, thank You for taking the curse of my sins upon You.