2 Sam. 16:5-13.
NO doubt some of my readers are familiar with the incident given to us in the above portion of Scripture, yet many more, I am sure, have never even read it.
There are many needful and beautiful lessons we may learn from this incident, but let us first look briefly at what is recorded.
Shimei was an enemy of David and when David was an outcast from his home, because of his wicked son Absalom, Shimei took the opportunity to show how much he hated him. David and his men went by the way, and Shimei cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and dust. He called him bad names and cursed him. But no matter what Shimei said about David, David took it all quietly and from the hand of God. He accepted it as the cup the Lord had seen fit to give him, and he would drink it up.
In all this we see a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus. He was hated, despised and rejected but there was no call for judgment on His enemies, but He prayed for them. They sought to take His life but they could not, till His time came. That is, the time He had to go to the cross where He would atone for sin—where He would die in our place. Then He gave Himself up because He knew the great need and allowed man to do what he wanted. He allowed man to show out all the hatred that was in his heart. He not only bore it patiently but prayed to the Father to forgive them for they knew not what they were doing.
In all this He is manifested not only as a Saviour to us, but the perfect example for the believer’s walk. Can you say you know that blessed One as your Saviour? If so, then take Him as your pattern and seek through His grace to follow His steps. “When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23.)
ML 02/25/1917