2 Samuel 19:16-23

Admit it, forgiveness is not easy for us, right?  Most of us would rather sit on a judgment seat than a mercy seat. If someone has done us wrong, there is a part of us that would rather watch them squirm in misery than smile in relief. But the fact is that God is a merciful God and He expects that we will be merciful people. Nothing good ever results from being unforgiving.  Withholding forgiveness certainly has a negative effect on those who need our forgiveness, but it also has a downward effect on our own lives.

David is at one of the lowest places in his life. He had sinned with Bathsheba, and that set off a whole negative chain reaction.  Nathan, the prophet, said, “The sword will never leave your house.” And it happened. He said, “Your family will turn against you.” This happened when his son, Absalom, conspired against him and usurped the throne. So King David quickly gathered up a few things and ran for his life. While he was on the run, David appreciated that a number of his friends came to his aid.  But David’s friends were not the only ones who approached him at this low point in his life.

David Is Attacked

In that desperate moment, with guilt crushing in on him, a man named Shimei from the same clan as Saul’s family, came out of nowhere to add to his misery.

5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.
6 He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David's right and left.
7 As he cursed, Shimei said, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel!
8 The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!"

2 Samuel 16:5-11 (NIV)

These words must have cut, like a knife, into the heart of David.  We have all had people say hurtful things to us and about us.  When it happens, it hurts and it makes us angry. 

Not only did Shimei use words to attack David, but he also used stones.  He wanted to hurt David’s heart with his words and his flesh with his stones. Shimei was trying his best to publicly humiliate David.

It hurts when we are attacked by others.  When people hurl words in our direction, or when they attack us publicly, or even behind our backs.  It tears us open to the bone when we are humiliated by the words and deeds of others.

Some of what Shimei said was true, David was guilty of murder. However, it was a lie that David was a “vain, worthless man.”  He was God’s chosen King of Israel.  In spite of his failures and his foolishness, he was God’s anointed and was to be respected for that fact alone, (1 Chron. 16: 22) In 2 Samuel 16:8 the words of Shimei are nothing but blatant lies.  In fact, there are three lies in this verse.

1.     God is getting revenge against David for murdering Saul and his family.  That is a lie!  Saul committed suicide and his sons were killed in battle.

2.     David stole the throne.  That is a lie!  The throne was given to David by a Sovereign act of God.

3.     God has given your throne to Absalom.  That is a lie!  Absalom took the throne of his father by rebellion.

Have you ever been there?  Have you ever been kicked when you were down?  It hurts doesn’t it?

David’s reaction to Shimei

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah. said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head." 2 Samuel 16:9 (NIV)

David’s nephew Abishai offers to kill Shimei. We will always have someone around that will try to come to our rescue – “Hey, you don’t have to take that…I mean, you’ve got rights…stand up for yourself…don’t let him walk all over you…get even…. Let me handle him for you.”  David had a choice to make – he could be offended and become resentful and take revenge upon this man, or not. But, instead of allowing Shimei to be put to death, David responds in an amazing fashion.  He just says, “Let him alone.  Maybe the Lord has told him to do this.  Maybe he is right!  If he is, so be it.  But, if he is wrong, the Lord will work it out in His time and in His way.”

David’s response has two very important parts to it. The first is David’s recognition that he does not want to be like Abishai, his nephew, and the other sons of Zeruiah.  The sons of Zeruiah were all built with a very short fuse. Every one of them carried a chip on his shoulder and was always ready for a fight. In fact David’s army commander, Joab was also a son of Zeruiah.  The second is David recognized his place under God. David considered that God may be using Shimei in some way to discipline him. David understood if God was not in it, then God would be the one who is in charge of revenge.   David knew if he acted properly to this injury, then God would surely bless him for it.                                                                                 What are you going to do the next time you are cursed, attacked, threatened, lied about, etc.?  Will you step outside of God’s will and handle it yourself?  Or, will you take the high road and leave it in the hands of God? 

Learn, like David did, to deal with these kinds of matters at the very moment of offense.  If you don’t, that hurt will fester into something far worse and far more dangerous.  If we are not diligent in handling these matters the right way, that offense will grow into resentment.  From there, it is just a short step into hatred.  That hatred will produce bitterness; and bitterness will find a way to seek revenge.

David’s Returns- 2 Sam. 19:16-20

Months have passed and the rebellion of Absalom has been squashed.  David is now returning home.  As he and his men cross the Jordan, several people are gathering to meet the returning king.  Among them are Shimei and one thousand of his men.  Shimei falls at his feet in humility.  This is a far different attitude than he displayed the last time his path crossed that of David’s. 

At this point you might debate as to whether his confession was sincere, or whether it was just an attempt to save his hide.  I think that we should just take the account at face value.  After all, the Holy Spirit does not call his confession into question. Shimei said three of the hardest words in the English language – “I have sinned.”  Shimei’s words must have hit a chord in David’s heart– it had not been too long since he had uttered those same words to Nathan the prophet.                                                                                                                                    

This is one of the keys to forgiveness.  Forgiving someone always is easier when we remember times in our own past when we failed and were forgiven. The truth is we have all been hurt.  But, the sadder truth is that we have all been on the other side too.  We are all guilty of saying things out of turn; talking about someone else; doing hurtful things; and even telling lies about another person.  When life finds us in this position, what are we supposed to do?  We are to do exactly what Shimei did.  We are to go to the person we have offended and we are to confess to them what we have done and we are to seek their forgiveness.  That is the clear teaching of the Bible,   Matt. 5:23-24; "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”   James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

David Forgives - 2 Sam. 19:21-23

As Shimei lay there spread out on the ground before David, pleading for forgiveness, Abishai, David’s nephew, stepped forward again with some advice. “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD’s anointed.” (2 Sam. 19:23) Here we go again, right?  There’s an old saying that says, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to approach every problem as if it were a nail.” Abishai’s solution to every problem is “kill him.”  In essence, Abishai was saying, “He kicked you when you were down. Kick him back, kick him hard. Finish him off.”  Fortunately, David was a man after God’s own heart, and he thought differently.

What can we learn about forgiveness from David?

Continue to Part 2