"Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today" (2 Samuel 16:11,12).

It is against the law of Israel to curse a king. David was fleeing the city from his son who was seeking to take his throne. David's enemies were increasing. As he was leaving the city, a man named Shimei began heaving rocks and cursing him as he passed by. David had every right to cut the man's head off. This is what his generals were encouraging him to do. Here we see the difference between Saul and David in their response to those who would seek to harm. This is the defining difference between a leader who seeks to lead through a "vertical" dimension with God versus a horizontal "fix it" mode. He was known by God as a man after His own heart. Yet, he was a murderer, adulterer, and failed in many areas of his life. But one thing separated this leader from all the rest: he had a heart that was seeking to please God and be in the will of God. When he blew it, he repented.

What is the purpose God desires to accomplish with the estranged relationship you may have with someone? Has He brought this affront to find out what is in your heart today? Will you take up revenge and solve the problem yourself? Or will you "wash the feet of Judas" and find the grace to allow God to carry out vengeance in His time if it is needed. When I learned this lesson to stay vertical with God and avoid the trap of "fixing things" in my own energies, it was a day of freedom. No longer was it my problem. We must examine our own heart in these matters. But, if we are clean, then this affront is for character building. It is the only way God builds the deepest level of character in His saints. A.W. Tozer tells us, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God actually raises up storms of conflict in relationships at times in order to accomplish that deeper work in our character. One cannot love their enemies in their own strength. This is graduate level grace. Are you willing to enter this school? Are you willing to take the test? If you pass, you can expect to be elevated to a new level in the Kingdom. For He brings us through these tests as preparation for greater use in the Kingdom. You must pass the test first.