1 Kings 2:38
And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
Shimei's story is one of grace and of warning. This is a man who could have been executed by King David on more than one occasion but David granted him mercy. Still, the crime of Shimei had revealed something in his heart that, though he had been forgiven of casting stones at David, had not been resolved. David warned Solomon about him and Solomon wisely granted Shimei mercy conditioned on his faithfulness.
He was granted grace to live without fear of punishment
He was granted the grace to build a home in Jerusalem
Shimei agreed that Solomon's mercy was good and Shimei followed the plan for many days. Three whole years Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem, obeying the restrictions placed upon his life. But then, in an act that was less than merciful, Shimei fell from mercy himself.
Shimei let something of lesser importance blind him of that which had greater importance. And it cost him his life.
There is a huge lesson for us in this same text because we can often do something of a very similar nature.
We take for granted the grace that has been extended to us
We forget the standards that God has placed upon us and
We allow something that is little in its eternal consequence scar our walk with God.
Living for God is a lifetime proposition. Let us never take His grace for granted.
And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
Shimei's story is one of grace and of warning. This is a man who could have been executed by King David on more than one occasion but David granted him mercy. Still, the crime of Shimei had revealed something in his heart that, though he had been forgiven of casting stones at David, had not been resolved. David warned Solomon about him and Solomon wisely granted Shimei mercy conditioned on his faithfulness.
He was granted grace to live without fear of punishment
He was granted the grace to build a home in Jerusalem
Shimei agreed that Solomon's mercy was good and Shimei followed the plan for many days. Three whole years Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem, obeying the restrictions placed upon his life. But then, in an act that was less than merciful, Shimei fell from mercy himself.
Shimei let something of lesser importance blind him of that which had greater importance. And it cost him his life.
There is a huge lesson for us in this same text because we can often do something of a very similar nature.
We take for granted the grace that has been extended to us
We forget the standards that God has placed upon us and
We allow something that is little in its eternal consequence scar our walk with God.
Living for God is a lifetime proposition. Let us never take His grace for granted.
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