”Then 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!” But 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?’ ” And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son 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. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” And 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. Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.“
II Samuel 16:9-14 NKJV
Hand of God!
The following commentary from David Guzik is filled with many jewels that we should take to heart when we are in despair! Let us be a man or woman after God’s own heart!
May we follow David’s example by staying focused on God and His will!
Blessings
a. Let me go over and take off his head: Abishai didn’t want to listen to Shimei curse or to dodge his stones anymore. The mighty men surrounding David were more than ready to kill Shimei in an instant.
b. So let him curse: David didn’t try to shut up Shimei. He didn’t close his ears to unpleasant or critical words. David was willing to hear what God might say to him through a cursing critic.
i. David let Shimei speak because he was not a bloodthirsty man (what have I to do with you). Ironically, if David were the kind of man Shimei said he was, Shimei would have been killed.
ii. David let Shimei speak because he saw the hand of God in every circumstance (the LORD has said to him). He knew that God was more than able to shut Shimei up; David didn’t need to give the order.
iii. David let Shimei speak because he put the “Shimei problem” in perspective. (See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite?) David knew that his real problem was Absalom, not Shimei, and he did not lose this perspective.
iv. David let Shimei speak because he knew that God’s hand was on the future as well as the present. (It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day) David knew that if he did what was right in the present moment, God would take care of the future.
v. Let him alone, and let him curse: “David could take this fellow’s head off and that in a moment, and yet he said, ‘Let him alone. Let him curse.’ And this makes a splendid example. If you can revenge yourself, DON’T. If you could do it as easily as open your hand, keep it shut. If one bitter word could end the argument, ask for grace to spare that bitter word.” (Spurgeon)
c. So they refreshed themselves there: David was not without hope or comfort. God allowed comfort to find him, even if it was in the small things. David was able to receive comfort because he was at peace and he knew that God was in control of Israel.
i. In refusing to cling to the throne, David was like Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross(Philippians 2:6-8).
“As we thus follow David through these days of humiliation and shame…we nevertheless understand more perfectly that he was indeed a man after God’s own heart.” (Morgan)
ii. In his book A Tale of Three Kings, Gene Edwards put these words into the mouth of David: “The throne is not mine. Not to have, not to take, not to protect, and not to keep. The throne is the LORD’s.” It was that kind of heart that kept David on-track through such a difficult time and enabled him to even be refreshed.
iii. “This is a radiant illustration of the deep and inward peace given to any man who is living in fellowship with God in motive and desire.” (Morgan)
(Guzik)
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