DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE Wednesday September 24, 2014 (The Danger of Tale Bearing and Rash Judgment) TEXT: A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. - (Matthew 12:35.) COMMENT: In the heat of the crisis occasioned by the attempt by Absalom to overthrow his father and install himself as king, a certain man of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, met David as he was fleeing the rebel forces. Shimei cursed David as he came, and cast stones at him and at all the servants of king David, saying, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. The insult was too much for Davids generals and they wanted to kill Shimei but David stopped them saying so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? ... Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. - (2 Samuel 16:5-14.) Evidently, Shimei did what he did because he thought the attempted overthrow would succeed and that would be the end of David. When the tide turned and David was restored to the throne, the same man came back to beg for forgiveness. David spared his life. It was clear from the event and the words of Shimei that some elements in the house of Saul were still angry that David was placed on the throne. (Matthew 12:34) It also shows we should not rejoice over someones misfortune, particularly a man of God. (Proverbs 24:17,18) We should also not talk ill of people just because they are down. (Micah 7:8) If not for King Davids godly disposition, Shimei would have been killed for his wicked action. It is instructive however, that death still met Shimei at the hands of Solomon when he failed to keep to the terms of parole or restriction order placed on him. - (1Kings 2:8,9, 36-46.) Courtesy: GODS KINGDOM SOCIETY (The Church of the Living God)
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:27:58 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015