Eternal Perspectives

You have to love the irony and justice found within the pages of our holy Scriptures.

Consider the following: In the account found in 2 Samuel, David has been forced to flee the city of Jerusalem because of the insurrection led by his son Absalom. The writer says,

Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul’s extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached. He threw stones at David and all of King David’s servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left.

As he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man! The Lord has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

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!”

But the king said, “What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David!’, who can say to him, ‘Why have you done this?’” Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the Lord has spoken to him. Perhaps the Lord will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse.” – 2 Sam 16.5-12 (NET)

David’s sensitivity to God and his restraint in not presuming to know the purposes of God are a reflection of both his humility and his patience. It is too easy for many of us to react or respond inappropriately when we feel we have been attacked unjustly. Like David, we do not feel we have done anything wrong; perhaps, unlike David, we too often defend ourselves or rebuke the other person for their words or deeds.

Not so with David. He knew his limitations and did not jump to any conclusions about the work of God in his life. This was not easy for, as the text continues, the assault was on-going:

So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them. The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David refreshed himself.” – 2 Sam 16.13-14

It is hard to miss David’s humility and patience.

It might, however, be easy to miss the conclusion to the matter. That comes years later when David is near death and is passing the scepter of the kingdom to his son, Solomon. In giving advice and instruction to his son, David says,

Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised him by the Lord, ‘I will not strike you down with the sword.’ But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.”

“Make sure he has a bloody death.” Forgive me, but I cannot help but smile at David’s words. There is a sweetness to the justice of God that is sometimes overlooked as we read the stories of the Old Testament. David was careful not to think he knew the mind of God in the matter of Shimei. Once he had seen God’s activity and recognized his vindication of his rule, however, David did not allow the sin to go unpunished.

David had an awareness of the special position he occupied in God’s purposes for Israel: he knew he, like Saul before him, was God’s anointed. As such, he was to be respected and treated with honor. His actions against Shimei were not those of a personal vendetta – if that were the case, he would have done something earlier when Abishai sought permission to separate Shimei’s head from his body. No, David’s action was because of Shimei’s offense towards God’s anointed leader of his people.

Personal insults should and must be overlooked, but would that we all had the passion and zeal of David for the institutions, words, and things of God.