Although the quotation above hardly sounds like it, the story of David and Shimei is really one of the bright spots in David’s life. Shimei cursed David, called him a “bloody man” and “man of Belial.” He threw stones at David and at his servants. But the man after God’s own heart showed mercy to Shimei and forgave him.

Shimei Curses David
Shimei, a man from the family of Saul, met the exiled king when he was on the run fleeing from the rebellion of his son, Absalom. He suddenly began to heap insults and curses upon David, and threw stones at him and his servants. He called David terrible names and accused him of being responsible for all the blood of the house of Saul, and added that the Lord had delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom.

The conduct of Shimei on this occasion was extremely vile. First, it was in direct defiance of this express divine commandment, “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Ex. 22:28). Ecclesiastes 10:20 also says, “Do not curse the king, even in your thought.” Second, it was despicable beyond words that Shimei would curse David at a time when he was a fugitive from the revolt of his own son, Absalom, thus adding to his grief. Third, Shimei’s accusation that David was responsible for “all the blood of the house of Saul” was an unfounded and unjust charge, since David had not attained his kingdom from Saul by means of bloodshed, nor had he taken vengeance in the usual manner after he was in power. Instead, he returned good for evil and demonstrated love for the surviving members of Saul’s house.

David spared the life of Saul twice when he was at his mercy. He also showed kindness to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, and the grandson of Saul. David was not responsible for the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, who both had died in battle with the Philistines. David was equally guiltless in the death of Abner and Ishbosheth.

And yet David saw something else in the curses of Shimei and in calling him a bloody man: the blood of Uriah which he had shed must have suddenly come to his mind. Though the blood of Saul did not rest upon David, that of Uriah did. David knew this very well, and therefore bowed to God’s righteous judgment, and spared Shimei.

Shimei said, “The Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son.” It is indeed solemn that the holy name of the Lord is uttered from the mouth of a wicked man such as Shimei. Moreover, Shimei dared to hypothesize about God’s dealings with David and undertook to interpret the divine dispensations toward him. May the Lord give His saints grace to preserve them from the folly and sin of attempting to comment on God’s dealings with others.

Abishai Offers To Slay Shimei
“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!” (2 Sam. 16:9). But David refused to heed the evil suggestion of Abishai, and instead rebuked him. Shimei deserved to die; David could have uttered the word and Shimei would have departed from among the living. In those days, the king had absolute and unlimited authority over his subjects. There were no courts and no defense attorneys. David had killed several people before. He ordered one of his servants to slay the Amalekite who killed Saul (2 Sam. 1:15). He also ordered the execution of the two men, Rechab and Banaah who killed Ishbosheth, the son of Saul (2 Sam. 4:12). He also killed Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. Make no mistake about it, David could have killed Shimei!

David’s Response To Shimei’s Curses
When Abishai offered to kill Shimei, David restrained him, saying, “So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ... 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” (2 Sam. 16:10-12).

David’s reaction to the curses of Shimei was beautiful and blessed – he saw the hand of God in this experience. This is always the sign of a spiritual, supernatural, God-given and God-sustained faith which always sees the hand of God in the hour of trial. David mentioned the Lord four times in his response. He realized Shimei was an instrument of the Lord and acknowledged that he deserved the curses. He was content to leave the matter in the hands of the Lord who perhaps had told Shimei to curse David. David was willing to accept this as a part of the judgment for his sins against Bathsheba and her husband.

David saw God in every circumstance, and acknowledged Him with a subdued and reverent spirit. David was lifted above subordinate agents, and did not look at secondary causes. To him it was not Shimei, but the Lord who was speaking to him through Shimei. Abishai saw only Shimei and desired to deal with him accordingly. But David looked beyond the instrument to God. “The Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’” This was enough. Here David is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ who did not see those who conspired to put Him to death – Pilate, Caiaphas, Judas, and the Jews – He saw only the cup from the hand of His Father (Jn. 18:11).

“And David said to Abishai and all his servants, ‘See how my son who came of 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” (2 Sam. 16:11). David calmed himself under the lesser trial of Shimei’s cursing by reminding himself of the greater trial of Absalom’s revolt against him. He sought comfort in the possibility that God might yet overrule this affliction for his ultimate blessing. David comforted himself with the notion that his sins deserved worse chastening than he was receiving. He looked beyond the afflicting instrument to the righteous hand of God. Moreover, he exercised hope that God would yet bring good out of evil, thus believing Romans 8:28, “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

After the civil war between David and Absalom ended, David returned to Jerusalem and his throne was restored. Shimei rushed down to meet the king in an attempt to save his own neck. He repented of his sin of cursing David, and asked for forgiveness.

He changed his defiant conduct, spoke to David with great respect calling him “my lord the king,” publicly acknowledged his grievous offenses, and sought the king’s pardon. Moreover, he cast himself at David’s feet, showing his willingness to be subject to his royal scepter.

Abishai, David’s nephew, once more said that Shimei deserved to die because he had cursed the Lord’s anointed. But David rebuked Abishai and did not heed his evil suggestion. David declared that it was not time to put any man to death since the Lord gave him the victory and he was delivered from the murderous designs of Absalom. He was satisfied that God had restored him to the position of being king over Israel.

Once more we see David as a type of our Lord Jesus Christ. The grand truth of the gospel is that Christ receives sinners and pardons them when they repent, confess their sins and cast themselves on His abundant mercy. This is what Shimei did. He determined to make peace with David, fell at his feet, and the king forgave him. David showed mercy and forgave him.

And this Christ will do for all who repent and believe in Him.

By Maurice Bassali

Next month we will consider the sins and failures of David.