2 SAMUEL 16:5-12 – 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. 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. And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 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.” 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.” 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?’ ” 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. 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.”

THEME OF THE DAY:  LEAVE IT IN THE LORD’S HANDS.  In today’s scripture, we find David an exhausted and discouraged king.  His son Absalom was drawing the men of Israel to his side with a goal to rule the land.  Not only was his son a threat to him as David fled to Jerusalem, but he is still reeling with guilt and shame from his sin with Bathsheba.

Enter a man named Shimei.  He would be a “thorn in David’s flesh.”  He came upon David and his men with venom both verbally and physically.  He called out David as a “man of blood” for his warring against Saul’s people. And Shimei’s blatant disrespect and treatment of David did not sit well with his men.  In fact, listen to the words of one of David’s choice men concerning what he wants to do with this evil man Shimei – 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.”  But pay attention to David’s response and from it, comes the lesson for us.

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. 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.” David had all the authority and power to silence Shimei.  Yet, he submits himself, his enemy, and his circumstances to the Lord as His vindicator and defender.

Friends, we don’t have to go into “self-defense” mode when people attack us verbally by ways of direct accusations or gossip.  The best thing to do is follow David’s example – leave in in the Lord’s Hands.  Let the One who does all things well, all the time, be the One who cares for us in the many relational wars we face in this life.  Nearly all the time, self-defense serves no good purpose.  We may easily come over as prideful instead of humble.

So, the next time a verbal attack comes, exercise some David-like restraint.  Just leave the situation in the Lord’s Hands. He is far more equipped to handle our battles than we are!

PRAYER: “Father, help me to trust You to be my vindicator when enemies assault me.”

QUOTE: “Defending oneself against spiritual enemies is rarely profitable.  Leave it in the Lord’s Hands.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim