Today is a "free day" when it comes to the reading plan but I just wanted to take a second and point out one of the attributes of David that I admire and try to mimic in my own life. At the start of 2 Samuel David gets the news that Saul and his son Jonothan have died in battle.
Saul at this point has been making David's life miserable. (That's an understamnet, Saul was murderous toward David, the text is filled with examples.)
But, David was different. David never saw Saul as an enemy. Every time David had an opportunity to talk smack about Saul, to bring him harm, or tear him down David chooses to go the other way and issue some measure of praise or kindness toward Saul. 2 Samuel 1 gives an example:
Saul and Jonathan—
in life they were loved and admired,
and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions. 2 Samuel 1:23
That's so weird and refreshing. What happens if we were to all adopt this positive gossip plan?
When given an opportunity to speak about others when they are not physically present what sorts of things do we say? Does that change if that person has disipointed us in some way or failed to meet our own needs? What might be changed around us if you and I only spoke the fruits of the spirit into the lives of everyone else?
Keep reading.