ONLY IDIOTS THROW STONES, BLINDED MINDS
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
I love Bible study. I love to study book to book. Sometimes I study by the thought. But another good way to study is by the person or the character. Often we find some very valuable lessons by studying people. Let us join together and study A MAN NAMED SHIMEI.
If we investigate the Bible thoroughly we find there are around 18 different men named SHIMEI in the Old Testament. All 18 men were ISRAELITES. These 18 different men are mentioned for several different reasons. Some are mention in family studiesc(linage). Some of the SHIMEI’s were caught up in the sins of marrying foreigners out of God’s will.
There are two SHIMEI’S that were famous. Levi had a son, his son was Gershon. He had a son named SHIMEI. This SHEMEI had the HONOR OF CARING FOR THE PORTABLE TABERNACLE AS IT TRAVELED THROUGH THE DESERT WITH MOSES. This SHEMEI was a good man and faithful to his post of duty.
SHEMEI THAT WE WILL LOOK AT TODAY BECOMES THE ROCK THROWER OF THE AGES… HE BECOMES THE IDIOT THAT THROWS STONES AT THE GREATEST KING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT…
NOW WE COME TO THE SHIMEI OF TODAY’S LESSON. GERA had a son and named him SHIMEI. This man was of the family of SAUL. Saul had great potential but he was lacking in integrity and submission to the PREACHER and to GOD’S PLAN. Recall: God instructed SAUL to totally eliminate the enemy. Saul lied to the preacher and said I have completely follow God’s instructions. Then SAUL BLAMED THE PEOPLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.
Then SAUL UNDERMINDED THE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OF THE OLD PREACHER SAMUEL. The nation of Israel was preparing for a huge battle. Preacher Samuel called the nation to INTENSE PRAYER. THIS WAS A HIDDEN TEST TO PROVE SAUL’S REAL HEART? GOD DELIBERATELY DELAYED SAMUEL TO TEST SAUL. So Samuel was delayed, SAUL IN TOTAL DISRESPECT TO EVERYTHING HOLY --- SAUL “FORCES” HIMSELF TO HAVE CHURCH WITHOUT THE PREACHER.
When PREACHER SAMUEL SHOWS UP, Saul in anger grabs the Preacher’s cape signifying the Preacher’s Authority and jerks it off the PREACHER’S SHOULDERS. This service was SAUL undermining God’s plan and HAVING IT HIS WAY. As SAUL jerks off the CAPE OF GOD’S AUTHORITY, PREACHER SAMUEL SAYS: BOY, YOU HAVE DONE IT THIS TIME. THE SAME WAY YOU JERKED MY MANTLE OFF MY NECK, GOD HAS JERK THE MANTLE OF HIS ANNOINTING FROM YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS. YOU WILL NOW HAVE TO OPERATE IN THE FLESH AS YOU HAVE PULLED THE COVERING OF GOD’S ANOINTING FROM YOUR KINGDOM.
IT IS EASY TO THROW STONE WHEN YOU REFUSE TO SEE GOD’S PLANS.
DAVID WAS A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART. MANY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT GOD ANOINTS WHOM HE CHOSSES. SHIMEI AND SAUL FAILED TO RECOGNIZE GOD’S ANOINTING ON DAVID. WHAT IMPESSES MAN? WHAT IMPRESSES GOD? GOD’S PLAN IS NOT BY MAN’S EYES… SURELY THE ANOINTING IS UPON ELIAB… ARISE AND ANOINT JESSSE CALLS ALL 7 SONS BEFORE THE PREACHER… TWICE… God has a man, respect him!
1 Samuel 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
BE CARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE MIGHT BE WRONG… BE CAREFUL AT WHOM YOU THROW STONES… SOME PEOPLE LOVE TO THROW UP YOUR PAST…
2 Samuel 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
6 And he cast 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 thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
David’s men desired to kill SHIMEI, David in his gloom and despair refused to allow Shimei’s death. REAL FRIENDS STAND WITH YOU EVEN WHEN THERE IS A DANGEROUS PLOT TO KILL YOU…
2 Samuel 16:9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
David trust in the Lord. David had learned from the bear, the lion and opposition that God makes a way where there is no way. TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN THE STONRES ARE FLYING.
2 Samuel 16:11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, 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.
SHIMEI WAS AN IDIOT, HE BELIEVED GOD HAD SENT HIM TO CURSE DAVID. LEARN A REAL LESSON: YOU CAN NOT CURSE WHAT GOD HAS BLESSED…
2 Samuel 16:13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. 14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
SHIMEI ASSUMED AN INVALID PERSPECTIVE…
• SHIMEI WAS SAUL’S FAMILY AND HE THOUGHT HE HAD CLAIM TO THE THRONE AS SAUL AND ALL HIS SONS DIE THE SAME DAY. So in Shimei’s eyes HE should be the next King.
• AS SAUL HAD UNDERMINED GOD AND SAMUEL, SO SHIMEI WAS UNDERMINING THE AUTHORITY OF GOD.
• SAUL FELL PREY TO THE CORRUPT LEADERSHIP OF ABSALOM’S REBELLION.
• ABSALOM WAS A SLICK TALKED AND USED FLATTERY AND POLITCALLY PROMISES TO DRAW OTHER’S AWAY FROM DAVID, GOD’S ANOINTED.
• SHIMEI THREW UP DAVID’S STAINED PAST AND WAS QUICK TO REMIND
• SHIMEI TOLD EVERYONE HOW BAD DAVID WAS… SLANDER, BIAS, MEAN TONGUE.
• SHIMEI BLAMED DAVID FOR SAUL’S DEMISE. (True: Saul raped his own seeds.)
• SHEMEI WAS BEING USED BY ABSALOM TO REBEL AGAINST GOD AND HIS FATHER. If Shimei could not reign at least he would have a high office with King Absalom.
GOD’S PLAN IS SUCCESSFUL. ABSALOM WAS DEFEATED…
JOAB THREW 3 DART’S IN ABSALOM’S HEART AND THE REBELLION WAS OVER. SHIMEI KNEW HE NEVER HAD THE SUPPORT TO TAKE DAVID’S THRONE…
NOW WHAT IS SHIMEI GOING TO DO… SHIMEI GATHERS 2,000 BENJAMITES AND IS WAITING FOR KING DAVID’S RETURN TO HIS ANOINTED THRONE.
2 Samuel 19:16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed? 22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
• Shimei knew he was wrong, throwing stone is never in God’s will.
• Shimei supported the enemy of God, Shimei could not believe God could use David.
• After all Shimei’s bad decisions he admitted he was wrong and confessed.
• Shimei apologized, not because he was sorry, he failed miserably.
• Shimei fell on his face, he had not choice.
• Shimei BEGGED DAVID FOR MERCY…
FOR THE SECOND TIME DAVID’S MEN SOUGHT PERMISSION TO KILL THE STONE THROWER AND THE CURSER.
CONCLUSION: There was a woman caught in the very act of adultery. She was guilty! Where is the man? Jesus states who is qualified to THROW STONES…. PERFECT PEOPLE.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
My friend, you are an idiot, when you throw stones. If you throw mud you are the one losing ground. Shimei’s lesson is STONE THROWING OFTEN HAS A BOOMERRANG EFFECT. God, will you open the eyes of our hearts that we SEE JESUS. There is a real DANGER OF MORE THAN BLINDED EYES, BUT BLINDED MINDS.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Good stone throwers never make better families or better churches. PUT YOUR ROCKS DOWN…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Part one, next: STAY IN BOUNDS.
