David and the group of people with him are working on getting as much distance between themselves and Jerusalem as they can, for David's son Absalom staged a coup and he and his supporters are in the process of occupying the city and the palace.
As if David isn't already downhearted enough, a relative of the late King Saul comes out to curse him and to gloat over the fact that many of David's subjects have declared Absalom king in his place. "As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 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. As he cursed, Shimei said, 'Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 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!'" (2 Samuel 16:5-8)
The accusations Shimei levels at David are unfounded. Even when Saul wanted him dead, David never took up arms against the wicked king. On two occasions David was close enough to have killed an unaware and unarmed Saul but didn't do it. He is not responsible for Saul's death or for the deaths of any of his sons or other family members. David will, however, have seven of Saul's descendants put to death in Chapter 21 upon instructions of the Lord, but unless the events of Chapter 21 actually took place prior to the material we're studying in Chapter 16, Shimei is accusing David of things he has not done.
It takes a lot of nerve---and a lot of anger---for Shimei to come out and curse the king of Israel and to throw stones at the king and at his troops. Most kings would order him put to death on the spot. One of David's nephews suggests doing just that. "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.'" (2 Samuel 16:9)
But David follows a principle that will later be written down by his son Solomon who will say, "It is to one's glory to overlook an offense." (Proverbs 19:11) "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?'" (2 Samuel 16:10) What does David mean when he says perhaps the Lord told Shimei to curse him? I can't be certain but I think David may be referring to the fact that nothing can come against a child of God that the Lord does not allow to come against him. We talked yesterday about how Satan loves to kick people when they're down and how he's been pretty busy kicking David while he's down. Shimei is one of the instruments Satan is using to kick David while he's down. But Shimei couldn't speak a word against David or throw stones at him if the Lord prevented him from doing so. Therefore, David believes there is a purpose in this present trial. He doesn't enjoy being cursed at or being pelted with stones but, for reasons he may not understand at the moment, the Lord has allowed this man to come out and behave this way. And if there is a reason why the Lord has allowed it to happen, David wants to respond to this situation in a godly manner so he can prosper in his adversity. He wants to come out of this dark time a better man than he was before.
On top of all that, David himself has committed sins worthy of death (adultery and murder, which were capital crimes under the Mosaic law). His awareness of his own failures likely causes him to feel merciful toward Shimei although any other king of his day would have agreed with Abishai and said, "Yes, off with his head!" But because the Lord was merciful to David even though he didn't deserve it, David is merciful to Shimei even though he doesn't deserve it.
Another reason David is able to overlook this offense is that it seems so small in comparison to having his own son betray him. It's much more hurtful to have the son that he loves turning against him than to have this stranger cursing his name. "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. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me His covenant blessing instead of His curse today.'" (2 Samuel 16:11-12) David trusts the Lord to vindicate him. He's standing on the Lord's promise that He will avenge His children. (Deuteronomy 3:25) If David stoically takes this abuse from Shimei without "repaying evil for evil or insult with insult", the Lord will take note of how he handles this situation and perhaps bestow a blessing upon him. (1 Peter 3:9)
"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. The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself." (2 Samuel 16:13-14) David rests and finds refreshment both physical and spiritual. It's hard to refresh ourselves spiritually when we're exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. That's because it's difficult to think about our spiritual needs when our physical needs aren't being met. The Lord, who created our bodies and our spirits, knows this and He enables David to be able to eat, drink, and relax for a time so he can commune with the Lord and be refreshed in spirit as well. We aren't just a body; we are also a spirit. We aren't just a spirit; we are also a body. After what has been one of the worst days of David's life, the Lord provides everything he needs for his body and soul so he can face another day.
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