Dead Dog Syndrome Series

[the title for this sermon comes from another contributor, but the content is my own]

THE VERY RELATABLE LIFE OF KING DAVID

DEAD DOG SYNDROME

2 SAMUEL 16:5-14, 19:15-23, PSALM 3:1-8

#kingdavid

INTRODUCTION... A Little Quiz (p)

I would like to begin this morning with a little quiz. I need you to participate with me and actually answer the questions. I need you to tell me what personality trait or words come into your mind when you hear these names:

* Thomas (Doubt) * Jezebel (adultery, idolatry) * Samson (strength) * Judas (betrayal)

* Satan (evil, lies) * Peter (foot in mouth, bold) * Shimei (huh?)

Chances are you have run across the name Shimei in the Bible, but probably forgot it. It is a name that appears 43 times in the Bible and refers to a few different people, but none of them have a significant role; so they are forgettable. The one we are interested appears in 2 Samuel 16, 2 Samuel 19, and 1 Kings 2.

Shimei? Yes Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite. My goal for us today we leave this worship service, is to remember his name and what trait should be identified with him… because it is one that we all deal with… some constantly and others from time to time. Shimei suffered from a spiritual illness that unfortunately strikes Christians and many times we just don’t care. It causes arguments, tears down our witness for Jesus Christ, and makes people dread us when they see us and at times makes us hate ourselves.

DEAD DOG SYNDROME

Shimei suffered from ‘dead dog syndrome.’

What is that? Where do we find it described in the Bible? Is there a medicine to take for it?

First, we need a little background in all the places we find it in the Bible… which will give us the definition and help us understand Shimei a little more and ourselves even better. The phrase ‘dead dog’ occurs three times in the Bible. All three times happen to take place in the very relatable life of King David.

We first see the ‘dead dog syndrome’ hinted at in 1 Samuel 24 referenced by not-yet-King David when he is shouting at King Saul after sparing his life. David is declaring that he is not ‘a dead dog’ at all and I think he’s saying that King Saul has the syndrome.

READ 1 SAMUEL 24:12-14 (ESV)

“May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!”

The next time (second time) we see this syndrome is in 2 Samuel 9 when King David is speaking with Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan and Mephibosheth tears himself down verbally before the king.

READ 2 SAMUEL 9:7-8 (ESV)

And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

Then we come to the third and final time this ‘dead dog syndrome’ appears in the Bible and in the life of David. The third and final time appears in 2 Samuel 16 as King David is rushing away from Jerusalem in order to avoid a fight with his son Absalom who has caused political and military problems for David and we meet the aforementioned Shimei.

READ 2 SAMUEL 16:5-14 (ESV)

“When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 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 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing 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 to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.”