Thank you. When it appeared the balance of power was beginning to shift from King David to his traitor's son, Absalom.

David, although he was worn and weary, still trusted in God's grace.

Today on Truth for Life, Alistair Begg explains why evil never thwarts God's good purposes.

Well, we ended this morning at something of a point of resolution, where in the words of David,

he was prepared to accept that although the words of Shimei were not entirely true, there was a relevance to them,

and he was aware of the fact that even though this evil had come upon him, that God

was such a God of unguessable grace, that he would, perhaps, he says it may be that he will

turn all of these curses to my good. Now, although that was a moment, if you like, of resolution, which is there in verse 12,

that response on the part of David did not bring an end to the cursing. It's not a big point,

but I think it is important for us to notice. Sometimes I think when we say, you know,

once we get everything resolved, once we're prepared to acknowledge

that God is in control and so on, and let him know, then we'll be able to proceed accordingly

and all will be well. So I just want us to make sure we notice that in verse 13, it says that

David and his men went on, and as they went on, Shimei kept up the same old stuff, throwing the rocks and cursing him out

and flinging dust in the air. And so we're told that having gone on, having continued to receive

this abuse, they then arrived weary, no surprise, and they were refreshed, arriving weary at the Jordan River,

and there he, that is, David, refreshed himself. Presumably, he said, well, since Zeba brought all that

stuff, we might as well enjoy it. And I assume that that at least was part of the refreshment.

Then the scene switches to meanwhile back in Jerusalem.

Because remember, while this has been going on, Absalom has made his way to Jerusalem,

and the way in which his entry there is described gives to us the notion, and it is an accurate notion, that all the

balance of power was on his side. Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to

...