Every Life Knows a Provocateur

Synopsis     2Sam 16:9-19     1/7/2019 

Shimei cursed David. And he pelted David with stones and dirt and they road along the path.  

Joab’s brother Abishai asked David for permission to kill Shimei. But David did not allow it. In fact, he observed that perhaps God had sent Shimei for that very purpose. And so Shimei boldly provoked the royal guard without them taking action. 

Finally, the king’s party arrived at the Jordan. They were exhausted from the day’s events and from the journey.  

Meanwhile, Absalom and his forces had entered the city. After they arrived at the palace, Hushai approached Absalom. As instructed, he offered to serve the new king. 

David and Shemei 

David refused to defend himself against the insults. And Shimei the Benjamite was not dissuaded by King David’s royal body guard. He kept up the mocking taunts as he followed David down the road.  

Although Abishai was annoyed and offended, both he and David knew that the king was not in danger. Still, Abishai wanted to shut up the cursed Benjamite who deliberately insulted the king with impunity.  

But David perceived the experience differently. He sensed that God might somehow be speaking through Shimei’s insults. And so he deferred vengeance wishing to remain open to what God was speaking. He respected God’s purpose for the moment. And he looked for meaning in the degrading circumstances.  

Every Life Knows a Provocateur 

The nemesis of Christ-followership is distraction. And offenses draw me into distraction. What’s more, they position me as a powerless victim in my own thinking. 

Francis of Assisi began his ministry by begging for rocks and stones. His intent was to rebuild a small church. As he begged, children would pelt him with rocks and mud. And they taunted him as a lunatic. But the taunting only served to purify Francis’ intentions and draw attention to his steadfastness. And after a while, God used his example to draw willing disciples to Francis’ side. And this was the origin of the Franciscan brotherhood.  

Perhaps like you, I’m looking to fulfill God’s purpose for my life in power. So what I find is that the clearer His demands become, the more likely I’ll experience someone who mocks me. And so I trust in the purifying effect of deliberate insults. And I believe that even this has a role in God’s larger plan for good. 

“Though your beginning was small, your future will flourish indeed.” Job 8:7