5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day. 13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. 14And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
Psalm 7
Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. 1 O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: 2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 3 O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; 4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) 5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honor in the dust. Selah. 6Arise, O Lord, in Thine anger, lift up Thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that Thou hast commanded. 7 So shall the congregation of the people compass Thee about: for their sakes therefore return Thou on high. 8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. 9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. 10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. 11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If he turn not, He will whet His sword; He hath bent His bow, and made it ready. 13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He ordaineth His arrows against the persecutors. 14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. 17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most High.
Meditation
Though Shimei knew nothing of Nathan’s words to David, he was fulfilling the word of God. Of the tribe of Benjamin — as was Saul — Shimei viewed David’s troubles as just retribution for having taken the kingdom from Saul. How little he knew of the king. David had opportunity to take Saul’s life, and yet he would not lay his hand upon the Lord’s anointed. David does not, however, quibble about the cause; he was a man of blood. He had caused the death of an innocent man: “thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword” (2 Sam. 12:9). David’s response to Abishai is most commendable: “So let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David” (2 Sam. 16:10).
The psalm presents a different perspective than the historic account; in it we have expressed the feelings of the heart. David is not indifferent to the taunts of the enemy. We should never suppose that the man of faith is without feeling. David feels his own weakness, but rather than succumbing to it, he places his trust in Jehovah. “O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me” (vs. 1).
False accusations are hard to take; David lays them before God. If the things that Shimei said were true, David would submit to the consequences, setting his honor aside (vs. 5). If not, there was One who judged righteously (vs. 11 JND). When falsely charged, it is good to remember that it matters little how man judges us; on the other hand, it matters greatly how the Lord sees us. Paul could say concerning his service: “It is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Cor. 4:3-4). Paul was not conscious of wrong, but that did not justify him; he was ready to submit to the scrutiny of the Lord. David felt the integrity of his heart, but submitted to the one that tries the heart and reins (vss. 8-9). While we see like principles at work in these two portions, we must again remind ourselves that the sentiments expressed by David in the latter portion of the psalm are not the experiences of a Christian. It is our portion to suffer with Christ that we may be glorified together with Him. It is not the time to call for the destruction of the wicked.
Nevertheless, in God’s ways of government, the wicked fall into their own pit. His mischief shall return upon his own head (vs. 16). “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him” (Prov. 26:27). Prophetically, verses 14-16 especially refer to the Antichrist. “He travaileth with iniquity, yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood” (vs. 14). The psalm concludes with praise to Jehovah most High, His millennial title, all enemies having been put down.