And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
The words were spoken by Shimei against David as David was fleeing Jerusalem in humility and affliction during Absalom's rebellion. Shimei called him a bloody, violent man and a man of Belial, that is a wicked and worthless man. Jealousy because David had received Saul's throne drove Shimei, and as he cursed he threw stones and dirt at David and his servants. The charge was false, a baseless and malicious slander with no truth in it. To curse the king in that way was rebellious conduct against the Lord's anointed.
The abuse did not prove David's guilt but exposed Shimei's own selfish and hateful character. When David's men wanted to kill Shimei for it, David stopped them and let him go on cursing. He humbly accepted the abuse, recognizing that his own sin had brought this punishment upon him. He recognized also that his sin had given the Lord's enemies occasion to blaspheme. He believed Shimei might be carrying out part of that deserved punishment permitted by God.
He hoped that by humbly bearing the curse God would turn it into a blessing for him. He trusted God to lessen his affliction and to preserve his life through it. After Absalom's death Shimei confessed his wrong, and David spared and forgave him instead of taking revenge. To revile a sufferer or to take pleasure in adding to the distress of one in affliction is the spirit of Satan.
The words were spoken by Shimei against David as David was fleeing Jerusalem in humility and affliction during Absalom's rebellion. Shimei called him a bloody, violent man and a man of Belial, that is a wicked and worthless man. Jealousy because David had received Saul's throne drove Shimei, and as he cursed he threw stones and dirt at David and his servants. The charge was false, a baseless and malicious slander with no truth in it. To curse the king in that way was rebellious conduct against the Lord's anointed.
The abuse did not prove David's guilt but exposed Shimei's own selfish and hateful character. When David's men wanted to kill Shimei for it, David stopped them and let him go on cursing. He humbly accepted the abuse, recognizing that his own sin had brought this punishment upon him. He recognized also that his sin had given the Lord's enemies occasion to blaspheme. He believed Shimei might be carrying out part of that deserved punishment permitted by God.
He hoped that by humbly bearing the curse God would turn it into a blessing for him. He trusted God to lessen his affliction and to preserve his life through it. After Absalom's death Shimei confessed his wrong, and David spared and forgave him instead of taking revenge. To revile a sufferer or to take pleasure in adding to the distress of one in affliction is the spirit of Satan.