Psalm 91 - Series
Shimei had security in Jerusalem.
We read in 1 Kings 2:36, “Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever.” (ESV)
When Solomon was King of Israel, he summoned Shimei and instructed him that he build a house in Jerusalem and live there. Solomon also cautioned Shimei that he should never leave the confines of Jerusalem, no matter what happened. Shimei was guaranteed protection only as long as he continued in Jerusalem, for Solomon warned him of what would transpire if he chose to disobey this command.
In 1 Kings 2:37, we read, “If you ever cross Kidron Valley and leave Jerusalem, you will be killed. And it will be your own fault.” (CEV)
The reason for this restriction on Shimei was that when Solomon’s father Kind David, was king over Israel, Shiemei disrespected David and cursed him. However, David graciously forgave Shimei and did not inflict any sort of punishment on him.
The word of God teaches us to be submissive to those in authority and not to treat them with contempt or disregard. We too have at many times displeased God, but God in His mercy choses to forgive us when we repent and it is His will that we remain in His protective care. Just like Jerusalem was a city of refuge for Shimei, so too the Lord has promised to be our security.
That is the assurance that is detailed out to us in Psalm 91:1, “Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.” (CEV)
The place of safety for God’s children is in the presence of God, under the shadow of the Almighty and All-Powerful God. As long as we remain under God’s protection, no evil will befall us and no disease will come near our dwelling.
Shimei walked out of the security?
Shimei enjoyed this security as long as he stayed within the boundaries of Jerusalem. Let us see what happened a few years later.
We read in 1 Kings 2:39-40, “But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, “Behold, your servants are in Gath,” Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath.” (CEV)
After three years Shimei forgot his oath with King Solomon to not depart from Jerusalem, which was his place of security. When Shimei heard that two of his servants had fled to Gath, he saddled his donkey, went in pursuit of them out of the borders of Jerusalem and brought them back. Mission completed successfully.
We are not sure how Shimei treated his servants that made them decide to escape from him. We can fairly assume that Shimei who had received forgiveness and mercy at the hands of Kind David failed to extend this same grace to his servants who had wronged him.
When King Solomon was informed that Shimei had disobeyed his orders and left Jerusalem to go to Gath, Solomon called him, inquired of him and put him to death. This calamity which came upon Shimei was a consequence of his own willful disobedience and there was nothing wrong on King Solomon’s part, as he only meted out a just judgement.
Oftentimes we are forgetful of the fact that we are truly safe, simply because we are under the care of an Almighty God. Especially when we are caught up with the business of the mundane, we tend to not remember that God’s protection is over us as long as we walk in obedience to His commands and live in His presence. So often under various circumstances we too step out of line of God’s commandments and sometimes we are not even aware of this.
Psalm 91 as a whole is the promise and assurance that God gives to those who are His children, who are willing to walk in obedience to Him and live in His presence. Having walked out of God’s protection by willful disobedience there are those who instead of taking stock of their own lives, blame God for the calamities that befall them. It is good for each one of us to analyze our lives and realize that when we deliberately disobey the commandments of God, we will be liable to face the judgement of God on our lives.
I would like to share about one aspect of God’s commandment that is widely being disobeyed today. This is an important command of God, which many having rejected have heaped many hardships and even several ailments on themselves.
How many times should we forgive? The million dollar question.
In Matthew 18:21, we read, “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”” (ESV)
The case that Peter presented to Jesus was of a brother who sinned against him. Peter knew that forgiveness was a necessity, but he wanted to know as to what was the upper limit one should set for forgiving someone else. To Peter, forgiving someone seven times seemed reasonable enough.
For many people living today, forgiveness is a word that does not even appear in their dictionary. They have no desire to extend forgiveness to anyone. Have you observed how most of the troubles we encounter are from those closest to us? That is why Jesus said in one place that a man’s enemies are members of his own household. This forgiveness must therefore be graciously given to those who are closest to us.
Let's read the background to this question
We read in Matthew 18:19, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (ESV)
Jesus taught His disciples that if two or three would be in unison about anything that they ask, that it would certainly be ratified by the heavenly Father. We as human beings who live on this earth cannot accomplish everything with our own strength and we need divine intervention from God for many of lives circumstances. In fact we require God’s presence and His guidance every moment of our lives. In order to find favor with God and receive answers to our requests, it is mandatory that we pray together with one accord.
One of the reasons for not having received answers to our prayers is because of the lack of oneness while praying. In many families the husband and wife have been praying for various needs and are yet to receive answers to their prayers. Why? This is only because their hearts are not one.
While describing the relationship between a husband and wife, the word of God explains that they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, this the primary relationship where this unity should be displayed. Sadly, however, this is the one relationship where many are in discord and conflict. When we strive for that unity that God desires, only then we can be sure that every prayer will be answered.
How does this materialize?
Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (ESV)
Only Jesus could say this statement because though He took on human form, died and was buried, He rose again the third day. This is the promise of Jesus that will never change and gives us the affirmation that wherever and whenever two or more are gathered in His name, He will certainly be there in their midst. When two people come together in agreement to pray, the Lord is there with them as the third person.
As Jesus explained this profound truth, Peter was prompted to ask the question in Matthew 18:21. Peter was aware that unity among brothers was such a challenge that he was wondering how this would become a possibility.
Especially in present day families there are so much of differences of opinions between husband and wife. Oftentimes each blames the other for this predicament. It is natural that there will be differences between spouses and family members, but it is vital that each one should be willing to forgive and forget each other’s wrong doings. Our anger towards those who wronged us may be right and just. However, as those who have received God’s gracious forgiveness, we must be ready to extend that same forgiveness to others, irrespective of the injustice meted out to us. There are many who are harboring unforgiving spirit for many long years and the consequence is that they have missed out on the presence of God and their prayers remain unanswered. If a husband and wife will chose to live in unity, there will be nothing that they cannot accomplish together.
How many times should we forgive?
Jesus replied Peter in Matthew 18:22, “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (ESV)
Jesus was categorical with Peter when He stated that the forgiveness one should extend was not seven times, but seventy times seven. In other words Jesus was saying that there was no limit one should set to extending forgiveness to others. The Lord simply said keep on forgiving.
This is God’s command to us and if we are stubborn, not willing to forgive those who wronged us and hold on to the hurts, we will miss out on God’s protection and will give Satan a foothold in our lives. This applies to every relationship, beginning with the husband and wife, siblings, parents and children, in the family, in the church and in society as well. If this is not practiced we will without doubt bring untold miseries on ourselves and on our families.
It is God’s desire to bless us but we as His children have certain responsibilities to fulfill. When Jesus went to the marriage at Cana where there was a lack for wine. Jesus did not Himself fill the stone pots with water and then turn them to wine. Instead, He instructed the servants to fill the six stone jars with water and when they obeyed, He did His part to turn that water into wine.
When Lazarus died and was placed in the tomb for four days, Jesus commanded that the stone be removed from the entrance of the tomb. It was only when they did their part, did Jesus do His part to raise dead Lazarus back to life. Jesus had the power to roll the stone away as well, but it was only when they were willing to do what they could, did Jesus perform that amazing miracle of raising a dead man to life. So too only when we are willing to obey the word of God implicitly, will we too be able to experience the wonders and deliverance of God in our lives.
The command of God is simple, we have to keep on forgiving others irrespective of how many ever times they offend us. As a wife or husband we must be willing and ready to forgive each other from the heart. We must realize that as human beings we are all prone to making mistakes. Sometimes as parents we hurt our children and we must be willing to repent of them. This forgiveness must be extended by parents to children and by children to their parents too.
What happens when forgiveness is withheld?
In Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus told a parable to explain this point on forgiveness. This parable is about what is expected in the Kingdom of God and the regulations that one needs to follow in order to enter the same.
We read in Matthew 18:23 “So God's kingdom is like a king who decided to collect the money his servants owed him.” (ERV)
The king in this parable calls for accounting from his servants for the money that was entrusted to them. We should not be misled to think that God is gracious and will not hold us accountable for all that He has committed to us. As the king took stock, there was brought before him a servant who owed him a huge sum of money. On finding that he was unable to pay back the king commanded that he be thrown in prison and that his wife and children be sold to repay the debt. However, when the servant fell at his feet and pleaded for mercy to the king, he willingly and graciously forgave the servant to free him of all that he owed.
This servant went out to find a fellow-servant who owed him a very small sum of money. This amount was totally insignificant when compared with what the servant owed the king. The servant asked his fellow-servant to pay back the little amount he owed him. When the fellow-servant expressed his inability to do so, the servant ungraciously handed this man to be thrown into prison until he payed him back what he owed.
When this news reached the ears of the king, he was infuriated. These are the words of the king to the servant who was forgiven an enormous debt that he owed.
Matthew 18:32-34, “Then his lord called him and said to him, 'You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you implored me. Were you not also obligated to have compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had compassion on you?' And in anger, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors, until he should pay all that he owed to him.” (AFV)
The king who had previously, graciously forgiven the servant was now angered and condemned him to the tormentors until he paid back everything he owed him.
If we are not willing to forgive others, the matter is taken up to the Lord Himself. All of us are aware that if we were to compare the wrongs that others have done to us with the sins that we have committed against God, they would be inconsequential. We all know for a fact that we have committed innumerable offences against God. If we are still alive it is purely because God in His grace has decided to forgive us and pardon us of all our iniquities.
As recipients of such bountiful forgiveness from the Lord, we are certainly obligated to extend the same forgiveness to those who have offended us in any way. There are so many who are undergoing untold misery both in their body and mind and ever so often, this is because of their willingness to forgive those who have offended them.
The promise of God in Psalm 91, that no harm will come near your dwelling, is available only to those who are standing within the security of God’s presence. This cannot be appropriated by those who are living in disobedience and are not willing to forgive others from their hearts.
We read in Matthew 18:35, “Likewise shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother's offenses from the heart." (AFV)
The forgiveness that God expects us to extend to others is not a superficial forgiveness, but one that is truly form the depths of our hearts. It means that we will never bring it up again in any conflict or conversation. Just as God has graciously forgiven us, may we too be willing and ready to forgive everyone who has wronged us, so that there will be true unity amongst us. Only then will we enjoy the presence of God and our prayers will certainly be answered.
Let us forgive and continue to live under the protection of the Most High God.
Pastor F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
