Day 4: The One who lifts my head high
Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David… When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king... (2 Samuel 19: 16, 18).
Father, we learn so much from the prayer David lifted to You "when he fled from his son Absalom" who had usurped his throne. In all the fear, the distress—the tumult of conflicting emotions about the son who was seeking to take his life and his kingdom, it was to You David called, it was to You he entrusted his vindication:
Psalm 3:
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1 Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
3 But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May Your blessing be on your people.
One of those who was saying of [David], "God will not deliver him," was Shimei son of Gera, who took advantage of David's grief and vulnerability to heap scorn, abuse and insults on the fugitive king:
He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! ... You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” (2 Samuel 16: 6-8).
When David's officials urged immediate and decisive punishment for Shimei (vs.9), David deferred to God's judgment (2 Samuel 16:10-12). Later, as it became evident that David was to be restored to power, Shimei retracted his insults. And David chose to show Shimei leniency in spite of the weak apologies and excuses he offered (2 Samuel 19:18-23).
Lord, would You teach us the humility, the patient endurance, and the full trust of David—even when we are wronged at our low points or in our vulnerability? Teach us forgiveness and leniency. Teach us to defer all judgment to you.
In the end, David was fully vindicated when Shimei violated the terms of his pardon during the reign of David's son and successor Solomon (1 Kings 2:36-46). In the final sentencing, Solomon said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing" (1 Kings 2:34).
Keep us from the pride, Lord, of wanting to take matters into our own hands. Help us to wait in peace and trust, confident that from the Lord comes deliverance (Psalm 3:8).
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