Returning Fire

Returning Fire
Words of Faith 3-10-25
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2025
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

2 Samuel 16:5-14
[5] As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. [6] He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David's right and left. [7] As he cursed, Shimei said, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! [8] The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!" [9] Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head." [10] But the king said, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?'" [11] David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. [12] It may be that the LORD will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today." [13] So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. [14] The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

The first person David encountered as he departed from Jerusalem was Ziba, who deceived him about the betrayal of Jonathan's son. Ziba came with gifts and flattery, and David fell for that one. Then came Shimei. His greeting was a bit different to say the least. He pelted David with stones, curses, dirt and filthy language.
Abishai, David's bodyguard and nephew, begged the king to let him take Shimei's head off, but David forbade him. This was a time of deep reflection for David. He contemplated that perhaps the curses coming from Shimei were deserved and came from God Himself. Perhaps this opposition was the Lord's just punishment for his sin. If he were innocent in this, God would someday vindicate him, but for now, he humbly endured the abuse.
There would be no recompense for Shimei's evil conduct as he continued cursing, stone-throwing, and dirt-tossing. The attack was humiliating, and David returned fire-- only in the form of quiet non-violence. David's response was to display trust in God through all of this.
David made a deliberate choice to bear up under the pain of these curses. There is a proverb that says, "Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest" (Proverbs 26:2). One day, Jesus, the Son of David, would bear up under terrible, undeserved abuse to redeem humanity from the curse of sin and death.
But that is not all. Paul taught us that we are to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-11).
Peter directed that we are not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9). Peter was clear that it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
This is the example of Christ that we are to follow. To this, you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:19-23).
We see a depth here in David that stands in a shadow cast all the way from the cross. Jesus taught the most radical of life choices-- "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic" (Luke 6:27-29).

Father God, build in me the level of trust in You so that I can love my enemies, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, and pray for those who mistreat me. Teach me the walk of redemption that leaves vindication to the Lord alone. Teach me to love in the way that Jesus loved. In His mighty Name I pray, Amen.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an e-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an e-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. The daily devotion and archive are posted at https://www.faithfellowshipweb.com/blog
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.