David and Shimei

King David is a personal role model of mine.  He is known as a man after God's own heart, and were that to become my epitaph, I would be deeply satisfied.

He sins horribly, but is forgiven, somehow.  He has desire for God's kingdom that is not fulfilled, yet his dreams are called good, and are righteous even if never fulfilled.  He writes poetry and music, and knows every frame, from despair to jubilation.  I suppose it's easy to relate to him, since he is presented in scripture from so many angles, and in so many places.

His leadership is one I desire to model my life after.  He is anointed and called, not for his strength or power but by grace.  He must endure years of persecution and fleeing and irrational king Saul, even after knowing His calling.  And once he becomes king, he must flee again, now from his usurping son Absalom.  His humility is undaunted, respecting even the authority of Saul (whom I would have disqualified from respect after his second attempt on my life).  When Absalom claims the throne and rides towards Jerusalem, David does not call his men to arms and prepare to defend what was his God-given place.  Instead, he slinks away, with a trail of men and women behind him.  He runs, rather than fight his own son.

Two interesting things happen here.  First, as David leaves, the priests carry out the ark before him.  If the king is to go, so will the Presence of God go with him.  But David turns to the priests and tells them to carry the ark back into the city.  And David says, "If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place.  But if he says, 'I have found no pleasure in you,' behold, here I am, let him do do me what seems good to Him."

Second, as he journeys, a man, Shimei, from the family of Saul, sees him go.  Shimei follows David, pelting him with rocks and stones, and cursing him as he goes.  He calls him a man of blood, a sinner and a thief.  Shimei yells to David that the Lord had brought this disaster upon him, and so justice was served.  One of David's servants offers to behead the man for his cursing, but David rebukes him.  He says "If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"  And again David said, "Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.  It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today."

David's humility is astonishing here.  It might even border on insecurity.  He is willing to entertain the possibility that the Lord may have finally brought justice upon him.  And if so, 'let Him do what seems good to Him.'  Astonishing.

And, he sends the very presence of God back.  He does not claim a monopoly over the revelation of the Lord.  Instead he trusts the the Lord will return to him what He deems right.  David has no need to scramble for keeps.  He hopes in the Lord.

Moreover, David does not rebuke his revilers.  He simply lets them curse him.  He knows that the love of God is greater, that redemption can turn even the darkest deeds to light.  And so he has no need for vengeance, no need to guard his reputation.  He is who he is by the Lord alone, and so the Lord alone can restore him if need be.

This is the humility of the man after God's own heart.  I desire to love and serve like him, with full abandon and trust.  Because of what Jesus has done, I can believe that all will be made well, and trust him even when my light expires.