Now 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. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: "Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The 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!
Who is this man, Shimei, who has the audacity to curse and throw stones at King David and his servants? Who is he to cast dirt and aspersions on David, the man after God’s own heart? I am with Abishai!
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!"
Also, if the guy is going to curse David he should at least have his facts straight. David did not overthrow King Saul. In fact, on several different occasions, he spared his life when he could have easily destroyed him. Ironically, on one of those occasions, Abishai was again with David, this time wanting to strike King Saul straight through with a spear. David stops him…
But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?" David said furthermore, "As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed.—1 Samuel 26:9-11
I love what David says next because it is how I want to be when someone curses me or things don’t go my way.
But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? (Abishai) 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."
David knew the Lord was involved in every detail of his life. He understood that all that happened in his life went through the sovereign hand of His God, first. Beloved…I want to be like David! I want to trust God in all things. I want to say with the same courage and faith that David had…It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him."
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.
Father…When people are unkind and critical..when they throw dirt on my character or return evil for my good help me to look up as David does here. Oh, God! Arise in my heart! Rule and overrule in my life. However, harshly or unfairly others might treat me, the reality is that it is only a fraction of what I truly deserve because Your word reminds me that what I truly deserve is death. You have, instead, given me eternal life in heaven with You. I am a woman who has been forgiven much. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Thank you that where my sin abounds your grace abounds much more. May Your word be my comfort in my affliction and Your Spirit be the keeper and refresher of my heart.
when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."—John 8:7
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.—1 Peter 2:21-25
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.—Matthew 5:11-12
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.—Romans 8:28
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”—Lamentations 3:22-23
