Today’s Devotion
Topic: Patience In Suffering: Tolerance versus Retaliation (Self Assessment)
Background: Revenge, they say, is sweet; but Jesus taught us better. He said, “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also” (Luke 6: 29b).
Absalom, David’s “finest” son conspires with some of the officials of Israel and advances a coup d’etat against his own father. Now, this leaves the king no choice than to flee the palace; his family and a few loyal officials with Him.
On their way, they meet Shimei, a man from king Saul’s tribe (Benjamin) who believes that but for David, the throne of Israel would have remained in their clan. He therefore proceeded to curse David out while pelting stones at him.
Let us delve into the story and ascertain how king David responded to Shimei’s accusations, especially at that critical moment of his life where his world and the kingdom were falling apart.
Text: 2 Samuel 16:5-14
5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 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. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8 The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”
11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me His covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself. AMEN
Questions
- What is tolerance, and why is it always good to practice tolerance/ restraint? (Isaiah 53: 7, James 5: 7- 12, Romans 12: 12, Acts 8: 32- 35)
- What is retaliation, and why is it NOT always a good idea for a Christian to retaliate? (John 18: 10-11, Romans 12: 19).
- How will you describe Shimei’s behaviour towards David, and what are the factors that make people behave that way? Kindly explain with examples.
- Abishai offered to retaliate by killing Shimei but David rebuked and stopped him. What were the king’s reasons for this rebuke? Do you agree with David’s action? If so why? (Also read Luke 9: 51- 55).
- Verse 13 and 14 revealed that although Shimei didn’t stop raining accusations on David, that did not stop David from reaching his destination and being refreshed even though the journey was exhausting. How does this reveal the kind of person David was, and what lessons can we learn from him especially as far as our distractors are concerned? (Also read 1 Peter 5: 10)
- What have you learnt from today’s assessment?
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