“. . . David the son
of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.”
~Acts 13:22b
I
was recently in a Bible topic study where the story of David and Shimei came
up. As it was being read, it struck me in a fresh way and I was reminded about
why God called David a man after His heart. David’s attitude in this story is
INCREDIBLE. When you read this, keep in mind the circumstances surrounding the
story: David is fleeing Jerusalem in disgrace from his own son who is taking
the throne. How many of us would have felt more like Abishai than David?
“When
King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the
family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out
cursing continually as he came. He threw stones at David and at all the
servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his
right hand and at his left. Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out,
you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! The Lord has
returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you
have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son
Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of
bloodshed!
Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the
king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and
cut off his head.” But the king said, “What have I to do with
you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse
David,’ then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” Then David said to Abishai
and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life;
how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord
has told him. Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and
return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” So David and his men went
on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he
went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him.” ~2 Samuel 16:5-13
2 comments:
Wow, thank you for sharing this, Anna! What a great example David set, it's amazing he answered with such calmness!
You're welcome, Emiko! David's response is amazing, I would agree!
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