A Lesson of Shimei and David 12/18/10

Synopsis: The story revolving around Shimei and his interaction with King David has important lessons for us as Christians today.

Introduction: Comment: Appreciate all those in past months who have been reminding us to search the Scripture and write them down. Today I will be referencing primarily the NKJV. Many years ago in 1961 I was on a troop transport the USN Darby crossing the Atlantic heading for Europe around the time when people feared the cold war would turn hot. Many of us, about nearly 5000, were like angry men heading off to war. Often times I’ve seen or read stories of angry men heading off to war, in faraway places like the bloody trenches of WW I, the Maginot line in France, the carnage and blood letting on the Beaches of Normandy. Throughout history mankind has been itching for one fight or another. We fight over big things and little things, unimportant things and important things. Side Note: Recently I had been watching parts of the series of Victory at Sea that was a favorite in the 1950s. I wanted to show our grandson, the big ships dwarfed by the enormous ocean waves. He was surprised and amazed at the short clip I showed him and he said, “They didn’t have color in those days.” Am I that old-“Before color?” The Bible speaks of angry, anger or wrath over 400 times The Apostle James in James 4:1-4 asks, “From where do wars come from among your members?” This Scripture actually give a clue to the identity of the lost tribes of Israel, but more than that in v6 it declares, “God resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” But for the purpose of this message we will focus on the actions of one angry man from the OT, Shimei. The title of my message is “A Lesson of Shimei and David”

Body: 1. Shimei an angry man: So who is this man called Shimei? This Shimei, was a Benjamite, the son of Gera of the house of Saul. He was an angry man toward King David for the supposed evil and wicked things he had done, against Saul Turn to 2 Samuel 16:5 - 13 (1023BC) 5Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. 7Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! (Comes from the Hebrew word for scoundrel or worse yet Belial which in akin to Satan as is mentioned in the NT 2 Cor 6:15)) 8The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!” 9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!” 10But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” (V10 comment: David believed God had sent Shinei to curse him.) 11And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son (speaking of Absolam) 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. 12It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 13And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust. (REF: Exodus 22:28, God had expressly forbidden what Shimei was doing “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” Later we see something different in 2 Samuel 19:16-23 (1023BC) 16And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 18Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” 23Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him. Did Shimei come to his senses and have a change of heart? Or was it political expedience? 2. The Demise of Shimei: We read about the demise of Shimei in 1 Kings 2:1, 8-9 (after about 20 years of David ruling) 8“And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious (vehement) curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.” Even after 20 years Shimei was not held guiltless-he was a self-serving man full of deceit!

Continuing, turn to 1 Kings 2:36, 38 – 46 (1014AD) 36Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. 38And Shimei said to the king, “The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do.” So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. 39Now it happened at the end of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, “Look, your slaves are in Gath. 40So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath. 41And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back. 42Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? (A word to the wise- let your yeses be yes and nos, no.)” And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.’ 44The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the LORD will return your wickedness on your own head.” (Most likely more than a one time indiscretion.) What were some of the issues with Shimei: 1. Shimei Overstepped His Bounds 2. Attacked David as one would a dog. 3. Empty flattery. 4.Did not keep his word. 4. Left a form of “City of Refuge” where he was offered protection. Shimei pleaded for David’s mercy, but he did not truly reconcile with David. 3. Application for Us Today: What is the application for us today? Shimei failed in his relationship with someone he did not like and eventually he suffered grave consequences. Thus what about us as Christians. Do we desire reconciliation?

Ephesians 4:26 26“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, (Shimei kept that grudge for 20 years.) Read Colossians 3:8 8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Isaiah 29:15-16 15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, And their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” 16 Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? God knows what we do in secret! Conclusion: In conclusion, earlier I mentioned the troop transport heading to Germany and the possibility of another devastating war. Thankfully God did not allow that to take place. Each of us often will have differences, but how do we deal with them. Do we verge on losing our Christianity in the heat of battle? Even as Shimei was, we all will be called into account when we go before the throne of God for what we did, said, or had in the secret recesses of our hearts and minds. Romans 12:17-18 17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Finally, be mindful of Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: as described in Zech 14:4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. Thus friends, put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking. Put away all malice. Do NOT forget the lesson of Shimei. Be as forgiving as your Savior is to you and live!