II Samuel 16:5-14 Dealin' with Dead Dogs Licking Valley Church of Christ January 31, 2021

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1 II Samuel 16:5-14 Dealin' with Dead Dogs Licking Valley Church of Christ January 31, 2021 Thank you so much for the opportunity to share with you this morning from the Word of God. I count it a privilege to know and minister alongside your minister, Gus. Gus and I started out in Bible college together back in He and his roommate, Jay lived on the 2nd floor right above Kevin Mack and me. We would communicate with each other - either by them stomping on the floor or us banging on the ceiling. That would signify that it was time to open our windows and to look up or down while conversing. I don't care to remember all of the gory details, but there was a time when I believe I indicated that I wanted to visit them up in their room. "Come on up!" They invited. Like a dummy, I reached up my hands through our window stretching up toward theirs. They actually agreed to my non-verbal request by pulling me up to their 2nd story dorm room and I ascended without the use of steps! Our relationship has toned down considerably over the years. I appreciate so much Gus's love for the Lord and His people. His ministry here has been an encouragement, not only to the folks of this congregation, but to so many others of us. I also appreciate your theme for the beginning of this year: Goliath Must Fall - Winning the Battle Against Your Giants. I've listened to a couple of sermons from the series and also watched this week's Louie Giglio episode that some of your small groups are using. I've decided that it was best to do a bit of research - not only on today's passage and Biblical persons, but also on Goliath and David. Surely if I dug deep enough I could find out something that you weren't aware of. Here it is: How many of you knew that David was actually older than Goliath, the giant? (Show of hands) Now I don't have an actual Bible verse or any archaeological evidence that proves this, but I know for a fact that at least on one occasion, David rocked Goliath to sleep! Let's look at another incident in the life of David several years after his victorious battle against the Philistine giant. David battled against several nations and kings. The Lord gave this king victory over so many nations and their kings. It seems as though his most serious battles were from within himself and his own family members. David is now on the move, as his son Absalom attempts to take over the throne. And now, to add insult to injury, here comes a real scoundrel by the name of Shimei to confront David. II Samuel 16:5-14 How do you deal with "Dead Dogs" like Shimei? Several times in the Old Testament we have individuals mentioned by the name Shimei. This one stands out. He is a Benjamite from the same clan of King Saul and is extremely loyal to King Saul. In my estimation, he's not too bright. Even as King David and all of his mighty troops are in a state of retreat, Shimei throws stones at them, showers them with dust, as he looks down on them from his place on high and curses David. He blames David for all of the bloodshed in the household of King Saul and it seems even indirectly for the death of King Saul. Looking at him from our point of view - he doesn't stand a chance. He seems so very puny in comparison with David

2 the king and all of the guard surrounding him. They seem to be on opposite hillsides. It would appear that David might be downwind and down in terms of elevation from this rascal. He sees David at a low point in his life and takes advantage of it. The descriptive term, Dead Dog, seems to characterize the guy fairly well. He doesn't stand a chance. He's a lowlife who deserves to die. And then there's they guy who refers to Shimei as a "dead dog." It's one of David's most powerful men, Abishai. Abishai was extremely loyal to King David. Abishai is a valiant warrior; he is chief over David's 30 mighty men. He is the man who counsels David to kill the sleeping King Saul when they sneak up on him. Abishai was willing to put his own spear through the evil king. David refused to allow any harm to come to the Lord's anointed. Abishai and his brother work together to murder Abner, the commander in chief of Saul's army. Abishai was impetuous and a man who immediately sought revenge. Finally, you know King David. He's a man after God's own heart. He's made his share of mistakes - and sins. He's a man of much bloodshed - so much so that he is not permitted to build the temple of the Lord. You know of his sin with Bathsheba. But in today's text, he shows a great deal of restraint and shows us how to handle situations of anger. We see one who stirs up a great deal of turmoil and one who causes anger to arise. He deserves to die. We see one who immediately wants to get revenge and is ready to take matters into his own hands. And then there is David. Examine this passage and a few others and realize how God wants us to deal with our own anger. Now I don't know about you, but all of this really doesn't apply to me! Anger simply is not an issue. I show a great deal of restraint, except in certain instances. Tailgaters annoy me just a bit. Ask my wife. I'm going at least the speed limit and here he or she comes. They think just because they are bigger or younger they can increase my speed by almost pushing. I've been known to immediately let up on the gas pedal just a bit. I hate to admit it, but if they zoom over into the other lane to pass me and there's a car just slightly ahead of my opponent, I might be tempted to speed up just a bit, so that passing is an impossibility. Or if some sweet parishioner makes a comment right before the service is about to begin: "Dan, this is the third time I've told you about the soap in the ladies' rest room." (Like my job description highlighted restroom maintenance!) Or another sweet soul: "Are you preaching on this same topic again??" I'm tempted to somehow nail them during the sermon.... Is it the same for you as it is for me? Family members know exactly which buttons to push to get us riled. And so very often, we want to retaliate. Need we mention the workplace? And often there are those Abishai-type cheerleaders, who would encourage us to get even.

3 So what did David do and what does our Creator instruct us to do? 1. David Remembered his own sins. David could have handled this rascal singlehandedly. Think of what David has done in the past. He's handled a bear, a lion, and Goliath! He knows how to inspire an army to fight diligently. He has valiant warriors who will give their lives for this king. They are most ready, at David's command, to destroy anything or anyone who might threaten the king. They are secret service - magnified a few times. But that's not where we find this king. He looks at where he stands with his own Creator. David has had some serious times of self-examination. He's taken the time to meditate on his own life, his shortcomings and the magnificent mercy of the Lord. After the entire incident with Bathsheba and Uriah, David is finally convicted of his own sin and is repentant, crying out to the Lord. Psalm 51:1-4 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. There is definitely a time of weekly examination when you and I gather around the Lord's table. We find out who we really are and where we really stand in the presence of the Lord. When that truly happens, our entire perspective changes toward others - who may have wronged us. Even when they are in the midst of wronging us, remember where we stand with God. The story is told of a young couple who moved into their first apartment in town. The primary view out of the kitchen window was into the neighbor's yard where the clothesline stood. Each morning the young wife looked at the laundry hanging on the line next door. She was disgusted. "Just look at her clothes on the line. They always are spotted and soiled. They don't look clean. I'm not even sure her clothes have been washed!" One day the same woman noticed a huge change. "She finally got it right. She must have changed laundry detergent or got a new washing machine. I'm so relieved." He husband smiled and said sweetly, "Yesterday afternoon I washed our window!" Jesus does even a better job of pointing out and illustrating our need to take a look at self. "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with he measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite,

4 first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5) 2. David Realized God's faithfulness. I truly cannot imagine David's feelings of remorse, regret, hopelessness and deep hurt. His own son is in the midst of trying to him and his throne. You ought to be able to count on and to lean on your own flesh and blood. And then to top it all off, here comes this "Dead Dog!" Don't you get mad just thinking about Shimei? Nothing is more refreshing at the end of the day then a nice warm shower. David is getting showered, but not with water. Shimei is pelting David with stones and kicking up dirt and dust. I can feel it on my skin. I want to cough and sputter just thinking about the dust that David is breathing. Retaliation would be so sweet! Instead, David focuses on God's faithfulness. It shows by his actions. "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." Time and time again, David trusted in the Lord and not his own strength. Can you and I do the same? Abraham fully knew that God would always do the right thing and remain faithful. When the cities of the plain were about to be destroyed by fire and brimstone, Abraham reasons with God. He knows that God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked and he asks God about sparing the cities if a few righteous persons can be located. "Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25) The Judge of all the earth will always do right. We don't have to take matters into our own hands. Listen to just a few passages stressing the faithfulness of our God: Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands. (Deuteronomy 7:9) Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (of David, Psalm 36:5) I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. (Psalm 89:1) 3. David Restrained his anger and Refused to Retaliate. Have you ever played the new game that is out now? It's not a board game or a hand-held or computer-generated game. You can play it anytime at anyplace. It's called the game of "One-Upmanship." It's really not new. It's really not fun for very long. It's different than the game of "Payback" or "Get Even." It happens on the playground. It happens at the workplace. It happens at home. (Trading 6-inch punches with older brother Larry. He would even let me go first. Never ended well for me.) Verbal "One-upmanship" is the worst. Our words can be so cutting.

5 David showed true restraint. And because of it, he was victorious. You can see how the game would have been easily played out in this situation. "You fling dust at me.... and I'll cut off your head!" k Later on, when David is victorious and is restored once again to his throne, Shimei comes back to David. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, and said to the king, "Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king." Abishai the son of Zeuriah answered, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?" But David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am theis day king over Israel? And the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king gave him his oath. (II Samuel 19:18b-23) Retaliation and unrighteous anger will eat you alive. 4. David Rested in the Lord. David and company finally arrive at their destination: the Jordan River. Scripture says very simply, And there he refreshed himself. I don't know exactly what that means. Maybe they all jumped in the Jordon and washed off Shimei dust! I think there is a spiritual element here. Letting go of anger and retaliation and allowing God to fully be in charge is so refreshing. Sometimes we just need to see the "Big Picture." Our sorrows, our temporary trials and even anger are only a drop in the bucket when we have eternity and the Lord in our minds and in our hearts. Wrapping it all up - Ephesians 4:25-5:2 We need to hear the rest of the story. I'm not absolutely sure that Shimei's life ever changed for the better. David kept his promise. He never put Shimei to death. Yet after David's life, wise King Solomon comes to the throne. He also gives Shimei a chance to live. Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valey, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head. Shimei answered the king, "What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said." And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time. But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves ran off to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath." At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath. (I Kings 2:36-40) Simple enough: Don't leave Jerusalem and cross the Kidron Valley, or you'll die.

6 In sharp, sharp contrast, I'm reminded of someone else. When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. (John 18:1) What a difference: Shimei and Jesus - a Dead Dog and the Son of God, who willingly crossed the Kidron Valley to give up His life to become our eternal Savior. Invitation Prayer