In yesterday's study we learned that the people of Israel are discussing among themselves bringing David back to Jerusalem to resume his reign. Many of those who supported Absalom deeply regret it---some because his coup was unsuccessful and now they are on the losing side, some because they are genuinely sorry for having fallen for the political promises of the young and energetic Absalom over a man with a proven political and military record like David.
David would be within his rights to march triumphantly back to Jerusalem and sit back down on his throne in the palace without being asked to resume his reign. But he wants to be "re-elected", so to speak, by the people. Absalom had a lot of supporters in Jerusalem and David wants no conflict to break out in the city upon his return. After all, he previously left the city in order to avoid a conflict there; he doesn't want to bring any hardship or casualties upon the non-military citizens who are just trying to go about their daily lives. So he's been waiting to be invited to return. In yesterday's passage we found a large majority of the citizens all over the nation talking about asking him to return, with the exception of David's own tribe of Judah. He rebuked the elders of his tribe for not doing what the elders of the other tribes were doing: calling the people together for a vote on this matter to get David back on the throne and to get the country moving forward again. It's not safe to have the kingship up in the air like this. It's not safe for the nation internally, for various political factions might begin fighting against each other. And it's not safe for the nation externally, for Israel's enemies might regard it as a good time to invade.
The elders of Judah and the priests took David's impassioned speech of yesterday's text to heart. The other people of Judah did too. Today they invite him back with the promise to welcome him with open arms. "He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, 'Return, you and all your men.' Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan." (2 Samuel 19:14-15a)
When the people hear he has neared the Jordan, they send welcoming parties out to escort him home. "Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul's household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished." (2 Samuel 19:15b-18a)
The last time we saw Shimei he was cursing David and throwing pebbles and dirt at him as David made his escape from Absalom. Shimei, who is a Benjamite like King Saul and is of the same clan as King Saul, felt the kingship should have remained with the house of Saul and should not have been transferred to David, even though it was the Lord's will for David to be king. Shimei was emboldened to curse the king because he believed Absalom's bid for the throne would be successful (and indeed it looked that way at the time) and he never imagined he'd find himself in a situation where he'd have to beg David for his life. But that's the situation he finds himself in today and he rushes down to the Jordan River and throws himself at the mercy of the king.
"When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king and said to him, 'May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.'" (2 Samuel 19:18b-20) I can't help picturing Shimei splashing across the low point of the Jordan with his hands outstretched in an attitude of supplication and honor toward the king. I don't know that he looked so undignified but in my mind's eye I see him running ahead of his entourage, his robes trailing in the water, desperate fear in his eyes, and water splashing all over him. He wants to be the first to greet David in hopes this will tame the anger he assumes David feels toward him. He wants to apologize immediately in hopes David will extend mercy to him. He knows David has the right to put him to death.
David's nephew Abishai knows David has the right to put Shimei to death and he thinks David ought to have him put to death. He offers to do the deed himself. "Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, 'Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord's anointed.'" (2 Samuel 19:21) This is the second time Abishai has wanted to see Shimei dead. On the day Shimei cursed David, Abishai offered to run over to him and cut off his head, but David granted Shimei mercy instead. David will again grant him mercy.
"David replied, 'What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel?' So the king said to Shimei, 'You shall not die.' And the king promised him on oath." (2 Samuel 19:22-23) David displays mercy like the Lord's when he pardons Shimei. Shimei is guilty; there is no doubt about that. David has the right to judge him however he wishes; there's no doubt about that either. But just as we are guilty of our sins, and just as the Lord has the right to judge us for our sins, when we come to Him in a repentant attitude in the way Shimei comes to David, the Lord extends mercy to us in the way David extends mercy to Shimei.
Shimei provides us with a good example to follow when repenting of our sins. He is truly sorry. He admits his sin and doesn't try to make any excuse for it. He simply confesses what he did and acknowledges that it was wrong. He also acknowledges David's position of power over him and David's right to handle the matter however he chooses. David represents the law and David has the right to judge him and sentence him under the law. But since David represents the law, he has the power to pardon Shimei, just as God the Lawgiver has the power to pardon us for our sins. Shimei knows he does not deserve mercy but asks for it anyway because he knows David is a merciful man. In this same way we know we don't deserve mercy but we ask for it anyway because we know the Lord is merciful.
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