David meets Shimei: The secret to letting go of vindictiveness
2 Sam 19:16-23
A friend had a colleague who was hard-working and focused but had little sense of humour and was rather rigid in her interactions with others. Lacking in social skills, she was often left out of spontaneous social events, uninvited when the rest of the team went out for drinks after work and excluded from parties organised by the more popular members of the group. Consequently, she did not get the insider banter among colleagues and was effectively ignored by most. No one quite realised her resentment seething under the surface until her hard work led her to be appointed team leader. Having reached a power position, she used every opportunity to get back at those who offended her. When colleagues turned up for a morning meeting looking bleary eyed, she made spiteful comments about ‘party animals’. Yearly performance reviews became an ordeal as she used every small mistake and omission to cut down to size those she resented. Her vindictiveness created a toxic environment.
David meets Shimei and Ziba
David, on the way to be restored as king, also faces choices whether to be vindictive as those unsure of their standing hurry to pacify him. Shimei, a member of Saul’s family who earlier cursed the fleeing David (2 Sam 16:5-8), is now obsequious in his attentions bringing a thousand men to show support for the king (2 Sam 19:16-17). In the group is Ziba (v.17), another Benjamite and servant of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. Although he provisioned David earlier and claimed that his master turned against David, Ziba knows that Mephibosheth will now have an opportunity to give an alternative account of events (2 Sam 19:25-26 cf. 2 Sam 16:3), so it is important that he shows his loyalty. Shimei, on the other hand needs to do more and admit his guilt and plead for mercy (2 Sam 19:19-20). Abishai, Joab’s brother, is once again ready for violence (see earlier in 2 Sam 16:9; 1 Sam 26:8) and immediately suggests Shimei’s execution (2 Sam 19:21) arguing implicitly from the law that cursing the king is a capital offence (Exod 22:28).
David refuses to be vindictive
David, however, refuses to be vindictive and swears to spare Shimei’s life (2 Sam 19:23). In fact, calling Abishai his enemy suggests (2 Sam 19:22) that David considers the man’s proposal destructive to himself as king.[1] Tempting as it might have been to satisfy a thirst for revenge when it could have easily been passed off as fulfilling the law, David nevertheless refuses to do so. What enables him to relinquish the desire for vindictiveness and retaliation? His statement, ‘Do I not know that I am king over Israel today?’ (v.23) is somewhat enigmatic but it possibly refers to his vindication by God. While at the time Shimei cursed him, David was unsure whether the curse was from God and would take effect (2 Sam 16:10-12), he now knows that God’s grace overruled in his case. Shimei could do no harm because the Lord was with the king. Implicit in David’s vindication is also a confirmation of his sense of identity and destiny as king. He does not need to prove himself to others by a show of strength and power because he is secure in who he is in the Lord.
The secret to letting go of vindictiveness
Becoming vindictive is a temptation for most of us when we are hurt or humiliated by others. For Christians, cutting down another person with criticism may be dressed up in the garb of wanting to ‘correct’ others. We are all adept at attributing the best motives to ourselves. The secret for us to lose our vindictiveness when unjustly accused, betrayed or hurt by others is to know our standing in God’s eyes and look to Him for vindication. This, of course, is a process and a path of learning for all of us, but once again, we look to Jesus as our model. When He stooped low and washed His disciples’ feet (including Judas’ who betrayed Him), He could do so because He knew that God had given all things into His hands (He had ultimate authority), He knew where He came from (His identity) and where He was going (His destiny; John 13:3), so that He had no need to prove Himself. No matter how stumbling our efforts, we seek to follow in His footsteps.
[1] I am reminded of Jesus telling Peter to ‘get behind me, Satan’ when the disciple suggests that Jesus could not possibly be executed (Matt 16:21-23). Jesus, knowing the purpose He came for, recognises the temptation as from Satan that would encourage Him to destroy His own mission by avoiding the cross. David similarly recognises that Abishai’s violent suggestion works against God’s purposes for the king to unite the tribes in his service. The parallel is strengthened by the fact that the Hebrew word for ‘adversary’ used in Samuel is satan, though it has not yet become a proper name for the Evil One.
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