The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 19:23,
"So the king said to Shimei, 'You shall not die.' And the king promised him on oath."
In Shimei's own words he had done wrong to King David. "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..." Verses 19 and 20. As David fled Jerusalem at the approach of is son, Absalom, we read of Shimei cursing David as he fled. "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!'" 16:7-8.
Following Absalom being put to death by David's military, David returned to Jerusalem to take back the throne. En route, Shimei prostrated himself before David and begged for his mercy at having cursed David. In the passage above, we read of David forgiving Shimei and promising him on oath that he would not put him to death.
Shimei did not deserve David's forgiveness. At one of the lowest points in his life, David had to endure the hostility of Shimei.
In some ways I am reminded of an undeserved forgiveness by God for our hostility toward him. We are all born with sinful rebellious hearts and live in an estrangement and, often, a hostility toward God. We have all sinned against God.
Yet, God forgives us just as David forgave Shimei. As Shimei, we don't deserve God's forgiveness either. However, out of God's heart of mercy he does just that and, just as David provided reassurance to Shimei, God confirms his promise to forgive us with his oath, "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. Hebrews 6:17-20.
"So the king said to Shimei, 'You shall not die.' And the king promised him on oath."
In Shimei's own words he had done wrong to King David. "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..." Verses 19 and 20. As David fled Jerusalem at the approach of is son, Absalom, we read of Shimei cursing David as he fled. "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!'" 16:7-8.
Following Absalom being put to death by David's military, David returned to Jerusalem to take back the throne. En route, Shimei prostrated himself before David and begged for his mercy at having cursed David. In the passage above, we read of David forgiving Shimei and promising him on oath that he would not put him to death.
Shimei did not deserve David's forgiveness. At one of the lowest points in his life, David had to endure the hostility of Shimei.
In some ways I am reminded of an undeserved forgiveness by God for our hostility toward him. We are all born with sinful rebellious hearts and live in an estrangement and, often, a hostility toward God. We have all sinned against God.
Yet, God forgives us just as David forgave Shimei. As Shimei, we don't deserve God's forgiveness either. However, out of God's heart of mercy he does just that and, just as David provided reassurance to Shimei, God confirms his promise to forgive us with his oath, "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. Hebrews 6:17-20.
Those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith enjoy God's mercy, God's forgiveness, as well as his oath to do for us all he has promised. Just as Shimei was promised his physical life in this age, we are promised eternal life in the next to enjoy all the Son of God inherits from our heavenly Father!
How can it Get any better than that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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