David, Grace, and Self-Control

It is not difficult to imagine some of the emotions of the deposed king as he furtively escaped the city for safety. His own son had usurped the throne, having spent four years planning and worming his way into the hearts of his father’s subjects by inferring promises he knew were baseless. Evidently, King David had chosen to look the other way while his son, Absalom, built his influence.

At this low point in his life, while fleeing for his life from his own son, David is confronted by Shimei – a man with a grudge. Shimei was related to the previous king, Saul and had quietly born his anger for years, since God had taken the kingdom from Saul and given it to David. Now he interpreted David’s misfortune as his just rewards and poured out his repressed anger on David and his companions. He threw rocks and vitriol as he cursed David, calling him a murderer.

Abishai went to David and offered to kill Shimei, but David’s response is meekly restrained, “If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him? ...My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” (2 Samuel 16:10-12 NLT)

The rebellion is short-lived and David returns to the palace. But there is no rejoicing in David – he loved his rebellious son and now he is dead. The tangle of emotions must have left him raw. There was the betrayal of his son, some of his trusted officials, his own citizens whom he had served. There must have been questions about God’s design for all that had happened. There is painful victory mixed with humiliating defeat.

In the mixture of all the emotions Shimei has come to greet David on his way: “Please forgive me…forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. I know how much I have sinned.” (19:19, 20)

Here was David’s opportunity to unleash all the swirling emotions; to let go of his grief and anger on such a deserving recipient. David could surely be expected to deliver harsh justice to this one who represents the betrayal of an entire kingdom. David makes no such show. He controls his emotions and any vengeful desires; he looks at Shimei and makes a simple vow, “Your life will be spared.”

Grace is possible because of self-control.