Scripture:
2 Samuel 19:16-23 ESV
[16] And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. [17] And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, [18] and they crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, [19] and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. [20] For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” [21] Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” [22] But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” [23] And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.
Observation:
A short time ago we saw Shimei throwing rocks and calling names, as King David made his exit. But what about now? Absalom was dead and Shimei’s thoughts of him being king instead of David died with him. Talk about eating crow. As King David was on his way back. Shimei’s heart had to sink to the bottom of his throat. What do I do? The king will surely kill me I proved to be useless in his eyes. How do I defend what I did? I have but 2 answers run for my life…or throw myself at the mercy of the king… What do I have to lose? The King will find me if I run. Maybe the best answer is to beg for mercy. He was the first to meet the king when David got back to the kingdom his defense was simple…I was wrong and I have nothing else I can say…there is no way to defend what I did. Forgive me. Abishai’s opinion had not changed. This man deserves to die. Let’s cut him down and be done with it. David’s heart was not the same as we know from other scriptures David’s heart was much like GOD’s. Maybe he saw something in Shimei that Abishai did not or maybe he just saw an opportunity to show the grace of GOD to a man who deserved to die. Either way, Shimei’s life was spared that day.
Application:
I don’t know about you. But I know what I deserve, and it’s not what I have by any means. I was a rock-throwing name-calling fool a few short years ago. My behavior was uncalled for, and in itself was a rebellion against the one who created me. Begging for HIS mercy was my only option. The wonderful thing is GOD met me right where I was with HIS amazing grace, and He will do the same for you. HE is not out to get you and HIS desire is not to strip you of your fun. HE wants you to be free from the bondage of sin. The only way for that to happen is to ask HIM. There is nothing you have done that HE won’t forgive. HE loves you. I want you to think about this one scripture. John 3:16 for GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only son the who so ever believes in HIM shall not die but have everlasting life. Now knowing that let me ask you a question… Do you believe in HIM? The one who sent HIS son. If you do then ask HIM to forgive you, and HE will. HIS grace is so much bigger than your sin. I believe that most of us in this text thread believe. However, there may be someone who has not asked GOD to forgive them, and I would not be answering the call GOD has placed on my life if I did not extend an invitation after talking about HIS grace. GOD loves you and if you have been reading HIS word you know that…but if you have just jumped in and you don’t know the price HE has paid for you. I would love to talk to you about it. The Bible says today is the day of salvation. There is no time to hesitate or wait. The enemy would like you to believe that there is always tomorrow. But honestly, we don’t know that. If any of us can tell me the day that GOD will call them home I will give them all I have. But none of us know that there is no way of knowing. So I just want to invite you to open your heart to the one who made you in your mother’s womb. If this is something you want to do contact me and I will do all I can to help you through the process
Prayer:
Father, your grace is so amazing. What we deserve you gave to your son, and what HE deserved you gave to us. Who would do that but you? It’s hard to understand, and far beyond what we can comprehend. You paid a debt you did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. How amazing is that? While we were throwing rocks and calling names. You were making a way of redemption. Yet while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Your grace calls us out of our sin it doesn’t leave us in it. We submit to you and your will and know that your plan is not to harm us but to shape us for that future. I pray that those who don’t know you can see that, and make the decision to live for you, please allow this SOAP to touch the hearts of anyone reading it that you have brought to the point of salvation. I know tgat you are ready to receive them, and we are ready to move forward in the decision. It’s in the mighty name of jesus I pray amen.