Absalom, Shimei or David: Which side are you on?
Preaching Outline on 2 Samuel 16:6-7 – And he cast 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. And Shimei cursed him and said, “Come out, come out, you man of blood and man of Belial.
Introduction to 2 Samuel 16:6-7
David was in a difficult situation. Absalom, his own son, had seized the kingdom through a coup. To do so, he promised more justice and showed false humility by kissing the hands of the people. But behind that “noble attitude”, Absalom was only seeking power.
Not satisfied with David’s sad situation, Shimei began to chase him, throwing stones, raising dust, cursing him and shouting: “Get out, get out”.
The whole unfortunate situation that David faced was, however, beneficial to him. David saw his mistakes, recognized his faults and became an even better man than he was. Despite his mistakes, God was dealing with him.
Absalom had no legitimacy to do what he did. The kingdom was David’s and could only be taken away by the One who had given it to him. In addition to the internal struggle, within his own house, with his rebellious son, David still had to deal with Shimei, the one who preferred to curse rather than help.
Development
Any resemblance to today is no coincidence.
Absalom today
The times in which we live reflect the story of Absalom. The rebel is on the prowl, trying to take over a kingdom that doesn’t belong to him and wasn’t given to him by God. He promises more “justice”, kisses the hands of the people to gain sympathy, but those who know the truth know that behind these promises there is only greed and a desire for power.
The Simeons of today
At Absalom’s side are the Simeis, who help to create confusion and stir up dust. Shimei represents the one who, instead of building, devotes himself to destroying. He throws stones, raises accusations and tries to confuse God’s servants. Like Shimei, many today are hiding behind digital platforms, blogs or social networks, criticizing and saying: “Come out of her, my people”. But, like Simei, they don’t come up with a better solution. Where should we go? What project do they offer?
Absalom and Shimei’s proposal is marked by apparent justice, but it begins with persecution, accusations and curses. This “kingdom” has no basis in truth and will never prevail.
David and the brave Meanwhile, David represents the one who remains faithful, even in the midst of adversity. He doesn’t strike back at Shimei’s stones or seek to retake the kingdom by force. David trusts that the God who anointed him as king is also powerful enough to restore his position at the right time.
David’s mighty men represent those who stand by the truth, fight for the just cause and trust in God’s sovereignty. They face the dust kicked up by Shimei and the lies of Absalom, but they don’t give up on their journey.
Ask yourself: whose side are you on?
- Are you on Absalom’s side, looking for shortcuts, nurturing ambition and taking what is not rightfully yours?
- Are you like Simei, dedicated to criticizing, destroying and confusing without offering solutions?
- Or are you on David’s side, even in the midst of suffering, trusting that God is in control of all things?
Conclusion
History teaches us that the work of Absalom and Shimei was doomed to failure. God restored the kingdom to David because he was the Lord’s anointed. Absalom and those who followed him were unmasked and defeated. Vanity, greed and rebellion will not prevail in the face of God’s sovereign will.
Today, the brave remain. They fight for God’s work with faithfulness and perseverance. May we be like David and his mighty men, trusting that, at the right time, God will reveal whose Kingdom it is. This Kingdom does not belong to men, but to the Lord, who is just and faithful to fulfill all his promises.
Which side are you on?
Preaching Outline on 2 Samuel 16:6-7 – And he cast 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. And Shimei cursed him and said, “Come out, come out, you man of blood and man of Belial.
More Preaching Outlines
- My trials – II Samuel 18:11
- Cross the Jordan – II Samuel 17:22
- Valiant Men and Their Characteristics – 1 Chronicles 12:8
