Redemption of a Family Name: The Crazy Cousin

II Samuel 16:5-8; I Kings 2:41-46

When people shout and throw a fit in public, people think they are crazy. It does not matter how just the cause, that individual looks like a lunatic. What makes it worse is when the person shows out in public only to be shown they are wrong. These rants often come with consequences as well. I have seen parent ejected from games and their kids utterly embarrassed. Those kids often wish their parent would not go to the game. So do the other fans. They bring a bad reputation to their name.

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Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw 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. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

II Samuel 16:5-8

And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back. Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.’ Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD and the commandment that I gave you?” The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the LORD will return your wickedness on your own head. But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.” So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

I Kings 2:41-46

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This is hardly a ballgame, but Shimei is presented in scripture as a raving lunatic when we are first introduced to him. He fully believes he is right. He fully believes David is an illegitimate king. He cusses and carries on. He throws dirt and rocks. He jumps around. Everyone around knows what is on his mind. While he hurts David's feelings, he angers others. So much so, they want to kill him.

While it seems as though he gets away with it, God would bring about judgment on Shimei. While David promised that he would not punish Shimei for his sins, that did not mean his son wouldn't. When Solomon became king, he required him to live in the city of Jerusalem. After some time, Shimei left Jerusalem to look for two runaway servants. He knew the consequences, but he decided the risk was worth it, rather than suffer the financial loss. When word reached Solomon, he had Shimei executed. Jerusalem means "city of peace". Shimei had been a raving lunatic, but Solomon called him to live in peace. Shimei did for a little while, but he let his own selfish heart lead him out of peace and back into the land where we are first introduced to him. Many people get an emotional stir and try to live on their own power in "the city of peace". Just like Shimei, they sit there for a while, but it is never home. Like Lot's wife, they get homesick and begin looking back. To use one of Jesus's analogies, they get choked out by the weeds or cares of this world (Matthew 13:22). Just like the plant that sprung up died from the thrones, so Shimei died.

Romans 12:18 tells us to "live peaceable with all men". For us to do this, we must abide in God's peace. It can't be something that we pretend to do while our heart is still in the world. If we do, we will find ourselves acting like ranting fools (Shimei). Not only will this be to our shame, but we will bring shame on the Name of God (Ephesians 4:30). Let us not visit God's peace, but dwell in it completely.

Father, when we act foolish, we shame ourselves, our families, and Your Name. Help us to abide in Your peace. Let peace flow from us because we are filled with Your peace. We thank You for that peace. Help us to share that peace with others.