Cornerstone Family Church
King of Hearts - Study Guide 12 - Passage: 2 Samuel 16:5-13
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KING OF HEARTS - Study Guide 12 - “A Forgiving Heart"
Main Passage: 2 Samuel 16:5-13
Study Guide Overview
One of the great character qualities of David was his forgiving heart. Instead of complete forgiveness, people’s forgiveness is often conditional, delayed and partial. Shimei publicly brings false accusations against David. David did not defend himself or retaliate. Later Shimei asks for forgiveness. David’s response is a classic example of how to handle an offense. David kept his focus on God. He remembered his own failures. Some of the lessons we can learn from engaging with this study guide are: having empathy toward those who attack us; recalling our own failures when responding to someone’s offense; ignoring those who encourage us not to forgive; and then graciously forgiving those who hurt us as Christ forgave those hurting Him.
Group Conversation Starter
What’s the worst advice you ever followed? How did things go?
Bible Passages
2 Samuel 16:5-13
5 As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family.
6 He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him.
7 “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David.
8 “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”
9 “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut off his head!”
10 “No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.
12 And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”
13 So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.
2 Samuel 19:15-23
15 So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river.
16 Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David.
17 A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king.
18 They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could. As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him.
19 “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.
20 I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.”
21 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!”
22 “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!”
23 Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.”
Discussion Questions and Next Steps Below
Group Discussion Questions
David showed restraint and did not let Abishai behead Shimei. Why do you think David was able to show such self control? What was the benefit to David for not killing Shimei? How can we see from another perspective when someone is offending us? (2 Samuel 16:11)
David tried to see the incident with Shimei from a godly perspective. How can Christians grow their ability to see from a spiritual perspective especially when they are under attack? (2 Samuel 16:10-12)
Shimei is the first one to welcome King David back to the throne. He apologized and begged for forgiveness for his actions when David was fleeing the capital. Do you think Shimei’s apology was sincere or do you think there was a different motive? How hard do you think it was for Shimei to humble himself like that? (2 Samuel 19:15-23)
David completely forgave Shimei and promised not to harm him. Why do you think Abishai was holding onto David’s offense and still would not forgive Shimei even though David had? What’s the problem with picking up someone else’s offense (2 Samuel 19:15-23)
Personal Next Steps
Self-Check
When you are dealing with someone attacking you, are you quick to react like Abishai or more patient like David? How could you become more like David?
Who do you talk to when you are struggling to forgive someone? Who do you talk to after you have forgiven someone that can hold you accountable with your decision to forgive?
Continuing the Conversation
Who could you encourage with the news of God’s forgiveness?
Pray
Ask God for His strength to forgive those who hurt you as Christ forgave those who hurt Him.
CORNERSTONE FAMILY CHURCH
Written by: Pastor Joe Albertini, Pastor Hal Gaudet, Pastor Todd McGlinchey