Posted on February 14, 2010 - by Pastor Josh

Receiving Stones

How often have you been in a situation where you’re wrongly being accused? If you’re like most people, it happens once in awhile. It’s obvious that as sinful creatures we could easily be accused of any number of things. But, it’s always particularly hard when you didn’t actually commit what you’re accused of. This seems like a common occurrence in the Body of Christ. I know it is at the church that I serve at. The last time I was aware of a circumstance like this, the LORD brought 2 Samuel 16:5-12 came to mind. Let’s take a look at it:

2 Samuel 16:5 Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was] Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.
Why do you think Shimei was cursing David? I believe it was because he was loyal to his “house” which was of Saul. Shimei didn’t like the fact that God had taken the throne away from his family and he despised David for it. This seems to be a key to false accusation, jealousy. In this case Shimei was jealous of David’s position.

6 And he threw 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.
7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue!
8 “The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you [are caught] in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”
Notice the place that Shimei’s jealousy took him, he began to act on his jealousy by casting stones and cursing David and his servants. Was David a bloodthirsty man? While David certainly committed a “bloodthirsty” act in the premeditated murder of Uriah the Hittite, he didn’t practice this. So, is Shimei justified? The Scriptures don’t seem to support this. In fact, we learn that David was considered to be “a man after God’s own heart”. This doesn’t sound like someone who’s bloodthirsty. Further, Shimei calls David a “rogue”. This word in Hebrew is actually Belial and it means ‘without profit, worthlessness, destruction, wickedness’. This is quite the insult! And is David actually reigning in the place of Saul or was Saul reigning in the place of David? A question that probably needs a bit more study.

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”
When being accused of something that’s not true, it’s nice to have people around you who will quickly come to your defense.

10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”
11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now [may this] Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him.
12 “It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”
Look at how David responds! He receives the stones…he receives what Shimei is saying, though it doesn’t appear to be true. This shows David’s heart of humility. David was willing to accept what didn’t seem to be true so that what might be true could benefit him. This is what the LORD was speaking to me about this passage. Is this how I would have responded? Probably not. Most likely, I would have tried to defend myself and supply a point by point rebuttal. David realized that His Father in Heaven allowed Shimei to come and say the things that he did and he was willing to listen for the Father’s voice in the midst of false accusation. This must be our heart when faced with this. We need to simply put our faith in the One Who holds our very breath in His hands knowing that He will not give us more than we handle! When we fail to listen for God’s voice in the midst of accusation, we are actually distancing ourselves from our Savior. Jesus said…And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. We’ve been given a promise that trials, tribulations, and difficulty will come our way. We’ve also been promised that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

So, the next time you are falsely accused, remember how David responded and do likewise. Keep in mind that God is the One Who allowed you to be in that circumstance and He has something for you to learn through. Be attentive to His Voice and allow the LORD to bring about the fruit of righteousness that He intends.