10 Reasons David’s Called “A Man After God’s Own Heart”
(Part 8 David Merciful and Forgiving)
“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22)
Did you know that we live in a society which promotes vengeance and not mercy, retribution and not kindness and striking back instead of forgiveness? This should be of no surprise to most when you consider the massive influx of movies and shows that promote the “get revenge” mindset. For years we have been slowly morphed into believing that mercy is weakness, forgiveness is foolish, and striking back at others who have hurt us or our family in some way, is the acceptable course of action. Both men and women in modern movies are heralded when they hunt-down and slaughter anyone who has crossed them or their families. In my own lifetime I have witnessed the transformation in movies and shows go from good triumphs over evil to, “the good guy”, who now wins against evil with vicious, unmerciful revenge and murder that moves the whole audience to celebrate as they see the “good guy”, often brutally and savagely, end the life of their enemy.
So, you’re walking with all your friends along a pathway and just up ahead is a man who begins to curse you in front of everyone, and the faster you walk—the faster and louder this man becomes. He follows alongside of you cursing you continuously kicking up dust at you—then if that is not enough, he begins to throw stones at you and at all your friends. One of your friends says, why do you allow this man to continue this way—let me go up and kill him for you. What do you do? This very thing is recorded for our learning (Rom. 15:4) in 2 Samuel 16:5-14 and 2 Samuel 19:18-23, did actually happen to king David and we can learn a couple of things from his response and reaction compared to others.
First from 2 Samuel 15 we learn, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom. So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom” (vs.13-14). David’s own son Absalom has betrayed him and seeks to kill him. Now in chapter 16 is the record of the confrontation between Shimei and David as he is leaving Jerusalem. We read that Shimei who was David’s nephew, the eldest son of his sister Zeruiah (1 Chron. 2:13-17), a man from the family of the house of Saul, “…came out, cursing continuously as he came. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David” (vs.5b-6). We may compare Abishai’s response as reflective of modern day thinking for, he said, “…Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!” (v.9). But—praise be to God that David did not side with Abishai’s vengeful directives—but rather with the heart of mercy and forgiveness that his God showed him whenever he sinned against the Lord. What did David say about this matter? “…So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day”” (vs.10b-12).
We do not always understand God because as Isaiah said, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9), but what David has taught us is this twofold principle. 1) Be looking beyond the event to the possibility that the hand of God is in the event for the purpose of teaching you something. 2) By showing mercy to others, even perceived antagonists, you may find that the Lord will “repay” you with good. 3) By showing mercy you might just make a friend of your enemy. We see this unfold when David returns to Jerusalem and Shimei treated him totally differently. Note the result recorded in 2 Samuel 19 verses 18 through 23 where we see David’s act of mercy toward Shimei. We read that as David comes across the Jordan he is met by Shimei who isn’t cursing, throwing stones or kicking up dust—rather he “fell down before the king”, (v.18) and said, “Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned” (vs.19b-20). Paul in writing to the saints at Rome concerning the way Christians should live, and treat others said, “19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:19-21). I find it interesting that Solomon, David’s son is being quoted by Paul (Prov. 25:21-22). The coals must be working for David’s mercy must have had an impact on Shimei for he was first in line to say, “For I, your servant, know that I have sinned” (2 Sam. 19:20).
We see forgiveness in David’s heart contrasted against the vengeful darkness of Abishai’s. There is a song, I am almost afraid to write the words for fear that it might begin to play over and over in your mind. The song: “Let it go”, and I’ll leave it at that. But that is what we must do if we are ever going to forgive others for their unwarranted, or even warranted words and acts against us. Abishai couldn’t let it go, he felt the need for revenge. He had to bring up the past—the need to remind David who must have obviously forgotten how bad Shimei was, and how he so heartlessly and cruelly slung his accusations slung at the king and his entourage. Abishai repeated, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” (v.21). But David was wiser, and his heart more after God’s own heart in that he chose to forgive saying, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him” (v.22-23). Those words, “What have I to do with you” should be on the lips of every child of God in respect of the Devil and his evil desire lie, murder and take revenge. Remember it was the unclean spirit who said, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24). We on the other hand want them to leave us alone, we want their influence to be gone. Many methods are used today by the Devil to get into your head, movies, magazines, books, radio shows and such. We need to accept the fact that we are not God, we don’t know the beginning from the end, but spend less time on the afore mentioned, and more time in His word we’ll understand like David that God’s hand is there working for our good always. Solomon wrote, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13), but I sometimes wonder if he was influenced by his father David.
Love
Dave Scarpino
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)