So David Went On

January 31st, 2025

So David Went On

2 Samuel 16:5-14

5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 6 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. 7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood 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. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.

Psalm 3

1 O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah

Throwing Rocks

David was already having a lousy day, when someone hits him in the head with a rock. Do you remember the character Earnest T. Bass from the Andy Griffith Show—a crazy hillbilly who throws stones through windows and wants to fight everyone? That’s who David meets next on his flight from Jerusalem: a man named Shimei, who showers the king with rocks, dirt, and curses. Who is this guy, and what is his problem?

Sudden Violent Assaults

Shimei belongs to the house of Saul. He lived a royal life until David came along. But for the past 35 years, the deposed Shimei has been living in a shack, nursing a bitter grudge. When he learns of David’s sorrows, Shimei celebrates! As David passes by his little hovel, Shimei shouts that David is finally getting the judgment he deserves: “Get out of here! Murderer! Worthless old man! Yahweh is paying you back for what you did to Saul!” Consider the scene: David has lost everything, his friends have betrayed him, and he is physically spent. That is just when an old enemy comes out of hiding, hurling fiery darts. Ziba reminded us of Satan’s crafty lies, gradually working on your mind. Shimei reminds us of Satan’s sudden, violent assaults. Either can break your spirit.

Shears in the Lord's Hands

Abishai promptly volunteers to cut off Shimei’s head. We can appreciate the offer. But his words take David back forty years, when he and Abishai found themselves in a cave with Saul. Abishai had offered to kill Saul for David then, too. But David had, famously, refused. He told his rash nephew that they could trust their enemies to God (1 Sam 26:8–12). David now repeats his counsel: we can still trust our enemies to God.

Shimei's curses are mean, unfair, and humiliating. But David trusts that God has a purpose in them. He says, “Shimei wants to hurt me, but God is using him to humble me. Yes, I was innocent toward Saul. But Shimei is not all wrong about me: I have been a worthless murderer. I do deserve God’s judgment. He’s reminding me that on my best day, I am desperate for God’s mercies. So I will take Shimei’s abuse as an occasion to humble myself before the Lord. In the end, God will deliver me.” This is a remarkably mature, faith-filled perspective on a personal attack. David looks past hateful Shimei, to how God might be working for his good. Perhaps Shimei is like a sharp pair of garden shears in the Lord’s hands, pruning what is dead and fruitless in David, making way for new growth. God can use mean people and unfair attacks to accomplish lasting good in your life! David shows us how to humbly yield to this kind of work.

Psalm 3 - The Lord Sustained Me

Now picture this: “So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust (13).” David’s world has collapsed. He has been betrayed and driven from home. He is torn up with sorrow and regret. One enemy whispers lies in his ears, and another screams curses and throws rocks at him. But he went on. In spite of everything he sees, hears, and feels, David still trusts in the promises and in the character of God. So David went on. Hold onto that picture; you may need it for yourself one day.

Finally, the weary men collapse at the Jordan River, at the edge of the Promised Land. But at the end of the longest day of his life, David “refreshed himself (14).” He’s not just soaking his feet in the Jordan. He gets alone with God. And for the first time in many years, David writes a psalm: “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for Yahweh sustained me (Psalm 3:5).” Who knows what tomorrow holds? For now, he trusts in God.

FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT, SEE:

Six Troubles and Seven