1 Kings 2:6–9

We listen eagerly for the last words of "the anointed of God". We hear him dealing out stern justice to Joab, the murderer of the two captains of the army of Israel... Then the voice seems to change to the softness of grace as he speaks of the sons of Barzillai. And on the other side of this apparent aside, we hear righteousness again. It pronounces the fate of the man who cursed God's king and disobeyed the king's command. Often the great deeds of life pass before the memory of those who are leaving it. But here is one who thinks of the injustice done to others, and of the kindness shown to himself by comparative strangers.

David, who represents grace, understood what was appropriate to a reign of righteousness. If there were no righteousness, grace itself would be nothing but guilty weakness. As a man, David had shown himself very little able to give each of these qualities its rightful place. Many times we find him too weak to carry out righteousness, as in the case of Joab, or we find him showing grace at the expense of righteousness. God alone has found, in Christ, the way to reconcile these two things: His perfect hatred for sin and His perfect love for the sinner.

At this point David's fortunes were at their lowest. Shobi, Machir and Barzillai declared themselves on his side. They met him and his company at Mahanaim, bringing with them what they felt he would need. David had not summoned them to entertain him; no superior force compelled them to hand over to the king what they owned. They brought, of their own accord, the things that suited the occasion... They saw in him the Lord's anointed, so the crowd's favourite had no attraction for them.

In time Barzillai died. Perhaps many in Israel soon forgot this scene and everything connected with it. But one heart never lost the memory of Barzillai's service. The king never forgot it, and Solomon his son was always to remember it. After his return David was busy with many important concerns. Even so, with his last breath he spoke of this service at Mahanaim, and committed Barzillai's sons to Solomon's special care. Before David and Solomon the sons of Barzillai had a place — not of distance but of marked nearness, for they ate bread at the king's table and feasted in the king's presence. Faithfulness to the Lord's anointed at a time when most people had deserted him was never to be forgotten. Such devotion was never to go unrewarded.

David's thoughts delight to linger, in contrast, on what Barzillai had done for him (2 Sam. 19:31-40). He rewards that devoted old man far beyond his desires in the person of his sons. At first this touched Chimham alone. Now all the sons of Barzillai have a right at the king's table in return for their father's faithfulness. They enjoyed the glory of the kingdom in a special position of honour and closeness. Let us be mindful of this in our families. The devotion of parents to Christ is repaid in their children.

Barzillai's age kept David from doing for him all that he wanted. His hasty action over Mephibosheth tells us we have only a man like ourselves before us. But nothing can hinder the Lord Jesus from rewarding, as He will, all who have followed Him in His rejection. No one will suffer injustice on that day.

Son of Gera, a Benjaminite, of the house of Saul. He cursed David and called him "a worthless man." He threw stones and dust at him while David was hurrying away from Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion. But he submitted when David returned, and David did not punish him then. When David was dying, he reminded Solomon of Shimei's wickedness, because Shimei had cursed the king the Lord had anointed. Solomon later promised Shimei his life on one condition: that he never leave Jerusalem. Shimei broke the agreement, and he was put to death.

When it seemed to Shimei that David was losing to Absalom, then he felt safe in cursing him. But when David regained his authority in Israel, Shimei changed his attitude and came to David to apologise. He apologised out of fear for his own safety. But David accepted it and swore to him by the Lord that he would not kill him.

David would not take revenge for his own sake. But later, when he was near death, he charged Solomon to see that Shimei suffered for his wickedness. This was simple righteousness. After David's death, no one could say that David was only seeking revenge. Similarly, God may allow evil men to live today, but future eternal judgment awaits them.

He was then apparently restored, but if David in grace had spared him, he did not hold him innocent. Everything now depended on how he behaved under the king of righteousness. His conduct would show whether his repentance was real.

Critics have attacked David's character because of this charge. However, the charge to Solomon to carry out vengeance on these two men is not a stain on King David. The punishment was well deserved. Joab had killed Abner and Amasa. Shimei had, with great vileness, cursed God's king. Both were wicked men. David's own guilt had no doubt made him neglect the solemn duty that justice demanded.

David's own sins in the matter of Uriah and Bathsheba had weakened his hands. It has been well said that a crippled hand cannot swing a heavy sword. Besides, had he not used Joab as his tool for the murder of Uriah? As he lay dying, he charged Solomon to deal with Joab and the others he had spared. Still, the whole story is humiliating.

Throughout David's reign David tolerated these men and showed them grace. But he charges Solomon to put them to death. They must receive no mercy once David's reign of grace is over. This is solemn, sinner. David's throne, like God's at present, is a "throne of grace."

Though Shimei did not keep his promise, Solomon would keep his. Solomon also reminded him of the wickedness of his attitude toward David, and that this wickedness would come back on his own head. David had not killed Shimei, so that no one could call it personal revenge. But justice had to be done, even though David was no longer alive. Shimei's case is a warning to us not to speak evil of those in authority.

For his own sake, David would not take revenge. Yet later, near death, he charged Solomon to see that Shimei suffered for his wickedness (1 Kings 2:8-9). This was simple righteousness. After David's death, no one could say David was only seeking revenge. In the same way, God may allow evil men to live today, but eternal judgment awaits them in the future.

David's own sins over Uriah and Bathsheba had weakened his hands. There is truth in the saying, "a crippled hand cannot swing a heavy sword." Besides, had he not used Joab as his tool to murder Uriah? When he lay dying, he told Solomon to deal with Joab and the others he had spared. Still, the whole story is humiliating.

He seemed to be restored. David had spared him in grace, but he did not hold him innocent. Everything now depended on how he behaved under the king of righteousness. His conduct would show whether his repentance was real.

David, who represents grace, understood what was appropriate to a reign of righteousness. If there were no righteousness, grace itself would be nothing but guilty weakness. As a man, David showed very little ability to give each of these qualities its rightful place... God alone has found, in Christ, the way to bring these two things together: His perfect hatred for sin and His perfect love for the sinner.

Solomon is best known for his wisdom. His father joined righteousness to this divine quality. David charged his son about certain offenders he had spared until then, and said, "You are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him … Act therefore according to your wisdom" (1 Kings 2:6-9). Righteousness was to be carried out with divine wisdom, so there would be no mistakes.

Someone reported Shimei's trip to Solomon. Solomon called him in and reminded him of his promise to stay in Jerusalem, and of Solomon's own promise to have him killed if he broke it (vv. 41-42). Shimei did not keep his promise, but Solomon would keep his. Solomon also reminded him how wicked his attitude toward David had been, and that this wickedness would come back on his own head. David had not killed Shimei, so that nothing would look like personal revenge. But justice had to be done, even though David was no longer alive. Shimei's case warns us not to speak evil of those in authority.

This is the first mark of the king reigning in glory. He executes righteous judgment in the earth. Nothing escapes the watchfulness of this judgment. We see it in the case of Shimei.

David tolerated these men all through his reign. He showed them grace. But he charges Solomon to put them to death. Once David's reign of grace is over, they must receive no mercy. This is solemn, sinner. David's throne, like God's at present, is a "throne of grace" (Heb. 4:16). David let his enemies live. Judgment fell on those enemies when Solomon's glorious reign began, and that reign pictures the coming thousand-year reign of Christ. If you refuse God's grace and stay unreconciled, you must face judgment. In grace God lets you live now, as David let his enemies live.