Homily For The Sixth Sunday After Trinity 2025
Our Old Testament Lesson is found in 2 Samuel 19. For context, we should consider what David endured at the hands of Shimei, the supplicant in our Old Testament Lesson. David wasn’t the best of fathers. He was overly permissive and allowed his oldest son, Absalom, to have more influence than was appropriate. Absalom, always eager for advantage, made sure to be present in Jerusalem when people were eager for an audience with King David. We read that Absalom allowed the rich and the poor and said, “if I were king, I would give you justice.” He stole the hearts of Israel through subtlety and intrigue. He decided he would rebel against his father and orchestrated an insurrection throughout the entirety of David’s kingdom. It took a deliverance from God to keep David and his faithful followers from being consumed by Absalom’s rebellion.
David was forced to flee from Jerusalem and he was met by Shimei, a relative of Saul, his predecessor. As David passed by, Shimei cursed David and said that David served Belial - that he was an idolator and that he had shed innocent blood. One of David’s lieutenants requested the opportunity to kill Shimei and David refused. The king said - Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.
David admitted that maybe the Lord had directed Shimei to curse. Let it be. David says, “Maybe the Lord will look on his affliction and bring me good for cursing.” We know that God orchestrated a deliverance for David. For the Lord made the flawless council of Ahithophel to be despised so that Absalom would fail in his attempt to destroy David.
In our Old Testament Lesson for today, the tables are turned. Actions when one has power indicates the character, the soul, of the one with superiority. David is riding triumphantly toward Jerusalem. Through the bitterness of his firstborn being killed, the King returned to Jerusalem. As he returned, as he triumphed through battle, he was approached again by the same character, Shimei. This time Shimei assumes the position of supplicant. He is asking for mercy rather than dispensing with cursing. In our Old Testament Lesson, he appears with all his sons and servants, a thousand other members of the tribe of Benjamin. Shimei begs for forgiveness. David’s advisors are eager for revenge - shall we not kill him for you? - they say. David speaks plainly in that he acknowledges his kingship and his right to spare life - to show mercy to those who desperately needed it. Decades earlier, David had been pursued by Saul, falsely accused, persecuted.
On numerous occasions, he had the opportunity to kill Saul but he refused because Saul was the Lord’s anointed - the one Samuel had anointed the King of Israel. David’s conviction was tested when a Philistine professed to have killed Saul - most would have rejoiced at the death of one so committed, wrongfully but passionately to one’s demise. The Philistine expected a reward from David; he received death instead. David killed the Philistine for harming the Lord’s Anointed. David wouldn’t take action against Saul and he took vengeance on Saul’s behalf when another harmed the one that God had appointed. Here, David, the Lord’s anointed, refuses to take vengeance for his own reputation, for his own name’s sake, he extends mercy. David had such zeal for the reputation of the Lord’s anointed yet he allowed Shimei to insult him and then extend mercy. There is much of the Spirit of Christ in David in his engagement with Shimei. He turns from pride and ego to allow Shimei to live.
Despite the pragmatic wisdom of eradicating disloyal elements after a coup, David tells the vengeful elements of his entourage to let Shimei be. David is king. He knows it. He knows that God has spared him from destruction. God has shown mercy to him despite David’s negligence and David will give to Shimei what David needs from the Lord. Mercy.
Our Gospel for today instructs at the very end - Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Jesus tells us to be eagerly seeking opportunity to be reconciled. Within the context of our Gospel, Our Lord is speaking about the dangers of the tongue, of unrighteous anger. The foolishness of calling your brother an idiot - a blockhead; disregarding the pain, the damage that comes from hateful speech. In contrast, Jesus commands his people to seek reconciliation. If at worship, they remember an offense, leave and make it right and then offer what the law, what worship requires. If one refuses to humble oneself, one will suffer consequences. It may lead to damnation for an unwilling, haughty, unrepentant spirit that is not the sort that has the righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees. Pride is unreasonable, it is uncircumspect and leads to spiritual death. In the civil context, Jesus tells us that it can lead to problems in the present. Sinful anger can lead to an adversary taking you to court and if the judge rules against you, you will suffer the consequences. Imprisonment until the adversary, the court is satisfied completely. Act quickly when there is offense. Maybe one can even convert an enemy into a friend. Be active, aggressive in reconciliation. I believe Jesus would encourage us to use the example of Shimei in being reconciled, for apologizing and seeking mercy from one who has been sinned against.
As we read in the Old Testament lesson, Shimei went immediately. He was the first to meet David when he returned from victory. He brought everyone with him; he admitted the stupidity of his actions and asked for forgiveness. David spared his life.
David models two ideals of Christian living - he is willing to say that what someone says may be right. He has a healthy instinct toward being self-critical. Truly, Shimei may be the agent of God’s discipline. Regardless of the circumstance, David needs God to be merciful so he is willing to admit that he may be wrong. There are many who bring immeasurable suffering to themselves and to others because they can’t admit that they are wrong - even when the evidence is conclusive. On the other hand, when David is vindicated by God, when he has what many would interpret as the proper opportunity for divine retribution, he shows mercy. David was self-critical, merciful and keenly aware of how people act.
He was in the words of Jesus, wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove in his relationship with Shimei, the betrayer. We read later on the death bed of David that he instructed Solomon about the wiliness of Shimei - he said - if he strays from his agreement - kill him. He kept his word to David but David instructed Solomon to beware of such intriguers.
So, let us heed the example of David - admitting that we may be in error; let us see in Shimei’s penitence the wisdom of seeking to be immediately reconciled with those we have offended, who we have sinned against. Finally, when we have been sinned against, let us show mercy and forgiveness like David. Acknowledging the truth that we may be wrong in a circumstance and yet merciful if our cause is vindicated. Amen.