[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.”
So, based on these three passages, what is this ‘dead dog syndrome’ I am talking about? What was it that David was hinting at for King Saul in 1 Samuel 24? What was Mephibosheth doing to himself in 2 Samuel 9? What on earth would cause Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite to curse David and throw stones at him? All three of them had ‘dead dog syndrome’ and I would say it infected King David as well in 1 Samuel 16.
What is this spiritual disease? It is a critical spirit.
ILLUSTRATION… gotquestions.org/critical-spirit.html [adapted]
A critical spirit is sinful judgmentalism with a side of condemnation. A critical spirit is not difficult to recognize in others, but can be in ourselves. Someone with a critical spirit is prone to complaining, seeing the glass as half-empty, full of unmet expectations, sensing failure in others, and being judgmental. Critical spirits are no fun to be around; neither are they fun to possess. We can also be quite critical of ourselves and tear ourselves down unnecessarily. A critical spirit is hurtful no matter which direction it is aimed.
Critical spirits are destructive tearing down both the recipient and the giver of the criticisms and the Bible warns us in several places about the danger of having a critical spirit.
READ MATTHEW 7:1-5 (ESV)
Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
This teaching from Jesus is famous for all the things it doesn’t actually teach. Jesus is not saying that we should not be discerning. Jesus is not saying we should ignore the fallen nature of the world or someone else’s sin. Jesus is not saying that we must never criticize anyone else anywhere anytime. In fact, Jesus teaches us to judge with right judgment, but not judgment or criticism with malicious intent or out of pride or hypocrisy or self-righteous holier-than-thou attitude. Jesus repeats this teaching in John 7:24.
READ GALATIANS 5:15 (ESV)
“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”
Criticism is devouring one another with our words and attitudes. Criticism is biting words. The Bible tells us that we are to judge rightly, but when we add judgment to our sinful nature, many times we end up with unfair criticism. Criticism left by itself is destructive and creates in us and in others a persistent critical spirit. A persistent critical spirit is the ‘dead dog syndrome’ we see clearly in 2 Samuel 16 infecting Shimei and infecting King David.
What are the symptoms/characteristics of this ‘dead dog syndrome?’
#1 Specifically evaluating and describing others negatively making them feel defensive
#2 Constantly complaining about something that cannot be changed
#3 Bringing critical words to bear at the worst possible time on purpose
#4 Truth not spoken in love; just ‘telling it like it is’ because the flaws are true
#5 Words that are often gossip, behind someone’s back, or passive-aggressive in nature
#6 Consistently judging others without all the facts or without listening
#7 Focused on unrealistic expectations, unwritten rules, and mixed intentions
I would add even more for those who say that they are believers in Jesus because our criticism can mix with our faith and come out sounding like God is condemning someone:
CONTENT… Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins, from Chapter 17
#8 Elevating personal preference to the level of Biblical truth and judging others on our preferences
#9 Holding Biblical convictions with self-righteousness
#10 Slandering someone because their Christian beliefs are different than ours
The devastating thing about all of these symptoms/characteristics is that they can be directed at others, but they can also easily be aimed at ourselves by ourselves.
TRANSITION
I ask you two very simple questions this morning that will take much self-examination to answer:
* Do you have a critical spirit? I used to think that only we could answer that question for ourselves, but I am pretty sure the people around us in our families and at work and in our friend groups can answer it as well. Do you have a critical spirit? Would the people around us say we suffer from ‘dead dog syndrome?’
* How do we defend against the ‘dead dog syndrome’ or heal from it?
The first question requires some self-examination and some difficult conversations with people in your life. The second question is one we can dig into now.
DEALING WITH ‘DEAD DOG SYNDROME’
2 Samuel 16:5-14 is a passage that is part of David’s darkest hour. David receives criticism from Shimei who is infected with a critical spirit. David is extremely critical of himself and is infected. King David had so many reasons to be infected with this disease. He had been stripped of his security, rejected by his people, and was no longer the young man capable of handling life on the run. Not only that, his enemy was his beloved son. As I said, this was his darkest hour and at the worst possible time as he rides away from a literal battle with his son, he has a mean-spirited insignificant excuse for a man throwing dirt and rocks at him and verbally cursing him.
How did David react and should we react the same? What can we learn from him?
How do we heal from this spiritual disease that is destructive?
#1 DAVID LOOKED AT THE CRITICISM AND HIMSELF HONESTLY
The first way of defending against criticism and healing from it is to deal with criticism and the critical person (whether someone else or yourself) honestly. I might be taking some liberties here, but I wonder what was going through the mind of David as Shimei was shouting at him. I think there might have been two thoughts running through David’s mind as he was pelted with rocks and criticism.
First, I think he was listening honestly to Shimei and seeing first if any of it was true. Verse 11 and 12 do not show that David disagreed with Shimei in any way. Many times, those who criticize us do not have all the facts or are mistaken in some way, but there might be a small thread of truth in what they are saying. Maybe, as David said, they are being used by God in some way to help you or to fix a problem in your life.
* Sometimes criticism comes because someone is mean-spirited, perhaps like Shimei
* Sometimes criticism comes because someone cares and wishes the best for us
* God can use either of these to aid us in our lives if we prayerfully let Him
Second, I think David looked inside honestly and remembered his own sin and looked at Shimei and saw someone who was also a sinner. One of the antidotes to a persistent critical spirit is to remember that you’ve sinned too. Shimei tells David that he is a ‘man of blood.’ That really was true. David was a warrior. He had fought many battles and fought many fights. He had massacred villages of people and had even had a man killed so he could have his wife. David was guilty of sin, just as all the men around him were guilty. David remembered the death of Uriah the Hittite and the adultery with Bathsheba. He had sinned and shed innocent blood.
Jesus Christ told a parable about this in the Gospels. In Luke 18, Jesus told of a Pharisee and a Tax Collector who happened to be worshiping in the Temple. The Pharisee could only see the sinfulness of the man beside him. The Tax Collector could only see his own sin. Who had the critical spirit? The Pharisee. Then, there was the incident of the woman who was brought before Jesus in the Gospel of John, chapter 8. The crowd was self-righteous and critical (not to mention hypocritical) and sought the death of the woman. How did Jesus diffuse their critical spirit? He wrote something in the dirt and then said "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7).
I think David looked at Shimei and knew that he himself had sinned and that perhaps he was not altogether wrong in his criticism.
READ 1 JOHN 1:8-9 (ESV)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I think David remembered that he had sinned and chose to forgive Shimei instead of allowing his general to carry out a head-relieving penalty against the man. This is more difficult to do for ourselves because we cannot at the same time be overly critical of ourselves and think honestly. Honest examination might mean we have a trusted ear to listen and help us break down the criticism.
#2 DAVID REMEMBERED GOD’S PROMISES AND FAITHFULNESS
The second way of defending against criticism is to focus upon God. Many times, the difficult times in our lives can be used by God to teach us and help us, but only if we have eyes of faith and keep our mind on the things above.
What do I mean? David remembered God’s faithfulness in his life and all the promises God had made to him. How do we know that? David wrote Psalm 3 during this time in his life. Remember, one of the reasons David’s life is so relatable is that we do not just get to see the events, but we see behind the events into his mind and heart.
READ PSALM 3:1-8 (ESV)
O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, There is no salvation for him in God.” 3 But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and He answered me from His holy hill. 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For You strike all my enemies on the cheek; You break the teeth of the wicked.8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be on Your people!
It is in remembering God’s faithfulness that we inoculate ourselves against the self-righteousness and anger and unfairness that accompanies a critical spirit. When we keep our mind on God, we will think and act as God would have us. What did David focus on when faced with Shimei who was condemning him and harshly criticizing him?
* David remembered that God would protect him (verse 3)
* David remembered that God hears his prayers (verse 4)
* David remembered that God gives him the strength to endure (verse 5)
* David remembered that God would deliver him (verse 7)
When we focus upon God and keep Him in mind, our reactions and conversations with those who are critical and judgmental will be seasoned with faith and actual truth and deliverance rather than anger and poor reactions. I hope that you realize that in all difficult situations and when dealing with especially difficult people, we should always lean on God for wisdom and guidance. That is what David did in remembering God’s promises and faithfulness.
CONCLUSION FOR SHIMEI (SORTA)
Before we conclude this morning, I would like to read to you what happened between Shimei and David when he returned to Jerusalem after the issues with his son Absalom had come to a bloody end.
READ 2 SAMUEL 19:15-23 (ESV)
15 So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, 18 and they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, 19 and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21 Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?” 22 But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” 23 And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.
I mention that this is the end of the story of Shimei, sort of, because David avoided a critical spirit in this passage, but exchanged it for bitterness. The bitterness towards Shimei grew in his heart and came out on his deathbed in 1 Kings 1. That is another sermon on another topic. Actually, it was the very first sermon I preached here at CCC and it was my trial sermon. How’s that for history.
CONCLUSION
We have talked about a touchy subject today because being critical of someone else or of ourselves is very destructive. It is hurtful in many long-lasting ways. It can be a difficult thought to look honestly at criticism and see what God might want to do in us. It is a tall order when you feel beaten down to remember God’s promises and faithfulness. I know it is difficult, but following Jesus and making the Bible the basis of our lives is not easy. It is difficult. We aren’t here talking about the wide easy path, but rather the narrow difficult path. Just because it is difficult does not make it untrue.
We will all face the situation of being criticized. We will be criticized from others. Perhaps we are overly critical of ourselves. What do we do? How we handle criticism is important. In 2 Samuel 16 in the very relatable life of King David, God show us:
* Look at the criticism honestly and see what God might be teaching us.
* Focus upon God and rely on Him in His promises and faithfulness.
PRAYER
INVITATION
I read a passage earlier that I would like to remind you of as we come to our invitation time.
READ 1 JOHN 1:9 (ESV)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That verse tell us that we must confess our sins and He… God… is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us. That happens through Jesus Christ, His Son, Who died on the cross to pay for our sins. Jesus made a way for us to have life after brokenness and guilt and shame. Only Jesus. Confession that we are dirty rotten is not a great selling point for the Gospel, but it is point #1. We are all sinners in need of saving grace. If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I invite you to come and confess Him or I invite you to come and we can chat more about Jesus and get your questions answered. Come as we sing!
