“As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. ‘Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!’ he shouted at David. ‘The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!’ ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?’ Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. ‘Let me go over and cut off his head!’ ‘No!’ the king said. Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?’ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, ‘My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.’ So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.” -2 Samuel 16:5-13(NLT)
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So there’s King David minding his own business when a man comes charging at him, not just any man though but a man named Shimei who was from the same clan as King Saul and his family. He was angry and did not control the words of his mouth as he was breathing curses against King David. Shimei showed no respect for King David who was the Lord’s Anointed, as he let a steady stream of curses flow from his mouth toward King David. However, it wasn’t enough for him to curse out King David. Adding insult to injury, Shimei followed them, still cursing the King, and now throwing stones and dirt at King David.
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King David had nothing to do with King Saul’s death so Shimei’s sinful attitude and sinful behavior was completely unjustifiable, but rather than exercising his right as a king, King David turned down Abishai’s offer to execute Shimei and tolerated the abuse because, “If the LORD has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
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Shimei was going against God’s civil law found in Exodus 22:28, “Do not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.” Shimei was sinning in the eyes of God by cursing King David and by throwing stones and dirt at him. By doing this, Shimei was flying in the face of the Lord’s Anointed One. God chose King David, not man.
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Facing unjustifiable criticism is emotionally draining and trying, especially when having to maintain your composure. If you are facing criticism that is unjustified, don’t get revenge. God knows what you are facing, and if you are in the right, God will vindicate you. Just keep doing what God wants you to do without compromising and keep obeying Him and His Word.
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“Do not touch My anointed ones; do no harm to My prophets,” (Psalm 105:15BSB). Let’s talk about this verse. If you are a child of God, you are God’s chosen one whether you are in a position of leadership or not because you are anointed by the Holy Spirit, empowered to live for the Lord. Even Abimelech recognized Abraham and Sarah, and he said (Genesis 26:11BSB), “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.” Like King David, Abraham and Sarah were God’s chosen ones. Let’s go further. Each land has governmental officials, rulers, and authority. If you don’t agree with their policies, that’s all right. You don’t have to agree, but you do have to understand for whatever reason, God has those people in place. You don’t get to threaten death against them or cause them bodily harm. They have been put in the positions they are in for a reason. As a citizen of the nation you live in, you need to obey the authority of the land and pray for your leaders in government. Also you need to pray for your church leadership, God has them in the positions they are in because God has them there for a reason as well. Those who are children of God, you are anointed, and the Lord protects and defends His own. “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity,” (1 Timothy 2:1-2NLT) and “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you,” (Hebrews 13:17BSB).
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It’s important to note, that does not mean you obey authority or leadership if they tell you to go against the Word of God. God is to be obeyed first and foremost, and we are never to go against the Word of God. Show honor and respect to whom honor and respect is due. When you show honor and respect, God will bless you.
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Do NOT be like Shimei and act out against authority and leadership. Things did not end well for Shimei.
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In 2 Samuel 19:18-23, King David returned back as king after Absalom’s death. Shimei fell down before King David, pleading for forgiveness and for King David to forget the terrible things Shimei had said and done to him. Shimei was pleading for forgiveness because he was trying to save his own life. However, King David showed him mercy because it was a day of celebration and not a day of execution, and again, King David turned down Abishai’s advice. King David turned to Shimei, “Your life will be spared.”
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King David’s vow to spare Shimei’s life did not make Shimei innocent. King David simply showed mercy on a day that was for celebration. Shimei’s life was spared until King Solomon took over in 1 Kings 2:8-9. King David told his son, King Solomon about Shimei. He told King Solomon that he was very wise and would know how to arrange a bloody death for Shimei, “The king also said to Shimei, ‘You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the Lord now bring that evil on your own head. But may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one of David’s descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the Lord.’ Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him,” (1 Kings 2:44-46NLT).
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Remember there are consequences for touching the Lord’s Anointed and doing His prophets harm. Those who are anointed are the children of God. Is it any wonder why we are told that life and death are in the power of the tongue. When you speak against God’s chosen people (His Anointed) and those whom God has ordained for leadership positions and those in positions of authority, you will reap what you sow. If you are going to be like Shimei breathing curses against those in authority and leadership, your curses are going to come back at you. God is going to protect His chosen one because He has ordered their steps. King David lived on. Shimei’s curses didn’t hurt King David. God was for and protected King David. However, Shimei paid the consequences for abusing him, bringing physical harm to him, and cursing him. In the end, Shimei was executed for his crimes he committed against the Lord’s Anointed.
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Let’s us take heed and follow the Word of God when the Word of God tells us in Exodus 22:28, “Do not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.” Pray for your government. Pray for those in authority. Pray for your church leaders, ministry directors, and pastors. Their job is not easy, and they are responsible before God to carry out the tasks that have been set before them. Pray for the Lord’s will to be done in their lives and that the Lord would have His way. Pray God gives them wisdom.
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PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of all Wisdom. You are the One who has ordered my steps. Lord, I thank You for the leadership and the authority You have provided me with. Help me to remember that those in authority and leadership have been ordained by and placed in their positions by You. I ask that You fill my mouth with Your words, O God, that I might speak life and not death, that I might speak blessing and not curses. Help me to live according to Your Word so I become a blessing to those around me as well as those who are in authority over me. Fill my leaders with wisdom and strength so they may be able to complete the tasks before them. Show me ways to bless them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The Church has exchanged what is holy for what is evil and exchanged the truth of God for lies. Rather than seeking the God Who Provides her with all her needs, she seeks after that which is temporal such as power, prestige, wealth, popularity, and the like.
The consequences of their sin are falling on their own heads, and they are blaming God for their suffering. Their choices have them on the broad road to destruction. They are headed to Hell. Their consciences are seared and their hearts calloused.
Everything is exposed before the eyes of God. He sees all and yet His children don’t believe He sees all they do and hears all they say. They are clever at doing wrong, but they are stupid when it comes to doing what is right. They have chosen death instead of life. They have chosen to be cursed rather than blessed.
Stained Glass Confessions 