I Kings 2:40
“At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.”
Shimei was a bad guy from long ago. When David throne was threatened from Absalom, he and his faithful fled Jerusalem. Shimei mocked him loudly enroute. One of his soldiers asked David to let him kill him. David said, “No. His curses may be from the Lord.” It ended up that they weren’t. Just the vocal negativity from a bad man. David asked Solomon to bring justice against him. A few verses earlier, Solomon warned him to stay in town. If he were to leave, he would die. A few years later, his slaves ran off. Today’s verse describes his actions.
When he returned, he was brought before Solomon and reminded of his deal and how he broke it. He was put to death. He couldn’t help himself. Time lessened the dread he felt about the warnings. He may have thought it would slip Solomon’s mind. It didn’t.
This is a strong example of reaping what one sows. He was a mean man and a slave owner. He was quite irreverent in his cursing David. A bully with a big mouth got what was coming to him.
Proverbs speaks much about a man’s anger bringing ruin to him. Here the author of proverbs, Solomon, brings justice. We need to be careful with our lives. Live under the fear of the Lord. Have a sensitive heart. Are we acting ignorantly and stepping on another’s toes? Are we a bull in a china closet to another?
Psalm 139:23,24 has David asking God for help about his actions. “Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” What a great practice. David goes strait to the All Knowing one. We should do this.
Solomon says in Proverbs 20:5 how difficult it is to know ourselves, “The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” We are often unaware of our issues. People call them blindspots. Solomon says a man of understanding draws them out. This doesn’t mean they have to be of high intelligence. That can help, but it’s the God fearing one who prays David’s prayer.
David says in Psalm 119:99, “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.” That’s the way we gain wisdom. We seek Him, read His Word and ask for wisdom. He gives it freely to the humble who ask. This one is quite a contrast to arrogant, bullying Shimei.
Lord, thank You for Your help. You keep us in Your ways. Thank You for the insight that You give and Your mercy, for we are sinful.