2 Samuel 16:5-14 – When God Doesn’t Judge Immediately
Shimei openly curses David. Just as many openly curse the Lord Jesus in our own day – and nothing seems to happen to them. That’s exactly the situation here. David could easily have stopped Shimei’s cursing. Abishai offers to do it for him. He says: ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.’ Abishai has a simple but effective way to stop him cursing. He has noticed that people without heads don’t curse. But David says no. And Shimei continues to curse.
People think that because they say something blasphemous, and they don’t get hit by lightning, that God must not exist. Or that he’s not able to do anything. Or that he doesn’t care. But David has his reasons for not striking down Shimei here. And God has his reasons for not always striking down those who curse him today. The biggest of which is patience. ‘The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’ But if they don’t repent, their being allowed to curse will make them more guilty. And by being spared they are actually, to use a phrase employed by both Jesus and Paul, filling up the measure of their sins. That is a solemn, solemn thing. Judgement would fall on Shimei during Solomon’s reign in 1 Kings 2:26, just as it will on all who don’t repent.
Questions
- What does Shimei do?
- What happens to those who do not repent?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the salvation of friends and family.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.