2 Samuel

2 Samuel 16: David leaves his cause to God

Begin in prayer

Before we read about Shimei’s curses, let us come before the LORD together. Ask Him to help us bring our hurts to Him, as David did.

You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.

Psalm 35:22

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that David hoped You would look on the wrong done to him, and show us Jesus, who was cursed and did not curse back. Help us to leave our hurts in Your hands. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Ziba meets David with donkeys and supplies, and he says that Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem, hoping to win back his father’s kingdom. David gives Ziba all that belongs to Mephibosheth. Shimei, a man from Saul’s family, curses David at Bahurim and throws stones and dust at him. Abishai wants to take off Shimei’s head, but David says to leave him alone. David hopes that the LORD will look on his wrong and repay him with good. In Jerusalem, Absalom takes the city, and Ahithophel gives him counsel that shames his father before all Israel.

As you read 2 Samuel 16, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

David hopes the LORD will look on the wrong done to him, so he leaves his cause in His hands.

Ziba brings supplies and says that Mephibosheth is waiting in Jerusalem for his kingdom (verses 1 to 3). David believes him and gives him what belonged to Mephibosheth (verse 4). Later Mephibosheth says Ziba deceived him (2 Samuel 19 verse 27). Shimei, a man of Saul’s family, curses David and throws stones and dust at him (verses 5 to 8 and 13). Abishai wants to take off Shimei’s head, but David says the LORD has told him to curse (verses 9 to 11). David says that perhaps the LORD will look on the wrong done to him and repay him with good (verse 12). This is David’s hope, and the text does not promise it to everyone who is hurt. Meanwhile Absalom takes Jerusalem, and Ahithophel advises a public break with David (verses 15 to 22). Jesus did not revile back, and He left His cause with the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2 verse 23).

How does 2 Samuel 16 show us that David hopes the LORD will look on the wrong done to him, so he leaves his cause in His hands?

Ziba brings supplies and speaks against his master.

Ziba brings donkeys, bread, raisins and wine (verse 1). He says Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem, hoping to get back his father’s kingdom (verse 3). David believes him and gives him what belonged to Mephibosheth (verse 4).

Shimei curses the king, and David leaves it to the LORD.

Shimei cries out, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood” (verse 7). He throws stones and dust at David (verses 6 and 13). David says, “Leave him alone, and let him curse” (verse 11). He hopes the LORD will look on his wrong (verse 12).

Jesus was reviled and did not revile back.

David hopes that the LORD will look on his wrong and repay him with good for the cursing (verse 12). He does not curse Shimei back, and he leaves him alone (verses 10 and 11). Jesus was reviled and did not revile back (1 Peter 2 verse 23). He left His cause with the One who judges justly.

Memorise

It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me today.

2 Samuel 16:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, when someone hurts me, where do I take it, and what did Jesus do?

Shimei threw stones and dust at David, and David did not strike back. He hoped that the LORD would look on his wrong, and he left his hurt in the LORD’s hands. Jesus was cursed and mocked far more than David, and He did not curse back.

On the cross Jesus became a curse for His people once for all, so that they could be set free. He was laid in a grave, and God raised Him to life.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and trust Him. Everyone who trusts Jesus can leave their hurts with God, and they are forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that verse 12 is David’s hope, not a promise to every hurt. Parents, please explain verses 5 to 8 and 21 and 22 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that David left his cause in His hands, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.

Psalm 22:24

Lord God, thank You that David left his cause in Your hands, and that Jesus became a curse for His people. Bring each one here to forsake sin and trust Jesus. Help us to cast our burdens on You this week, and bring our heart question to You. Amen.