2 Samuel 19:15-20: a reflection

15So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan. 16Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of Saul’s house, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went through the Jordan in the presence of the king. 18A ferry boat went to bring over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had come over the Jordan. 19He said to the king, “Don’t let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore behold, I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

When David returns to reclaim his throne, Shimei, who had cursed and thrown stones at him when he fled, comes hurrying to meet him. But he does not come defending or excusing himself; he comes confessing. Don't let my lord impute iniquity to me, he pleads; for your servant knows that I have sinned. He owns his wrong plainly, without excuse, and comes humbly to seek David's mercy. Having wronged the king, he does not hide or justify himself, but confesses his sin and pleads for mercy.

Notice how Shimei comes: confessing his wrong plainly and seeking mercy. He had genuinely wronged David, cursing him in his flight; and now, David returning, he might have tried to excuse or defend himself. But instead he confesses: I have sinned. He owns his wrong without excuse, comes humbly, and pleads for mercy rather than justice. His approach is not self-justification but honest confession and a plea for mercy. Having wronged another, he comes owning it and seeking pardon.

That is worth taking to heart, for when we have wronged another, we can be tempted to excuse or defend ourselves rather than confess and seek mercy. When we have done wrong, especially to another person, our instinct can be to justify ourselves, to excuse, to defend; but Shimei confessed his wrong plainly and sought mercy. When you have wronged someone, do not excuse or defend yourself; confess your wrong plainly, as Shimei did, and humbly seek mercy. Own your fault without excuse, coming humbly to seek pardon, rather than justifying yourself; for honest confession and a plea for mercy, as Shimei made to David, is the way to be reconciled, and better than the self-justification that hides or defends the wrong. Come, when you have wronged another, confessing plainly and seeking mercy, as Shimei came to David owning his sin and pleading for pardon.

Lord, when David returns to reclaim his throne, Shimei, who had cursed and thrown stones at him when he fled, comes hurrying to meet him. But he does not come defending or excusing himself; he comes confessing. Don't let my lord impute iniquity to me, he pleads; for your servant knows that I have sinned. He owns his wrong plainly, without excuse, and comes humbly to seek David's mercy. Show me how Shimei comes: confessing his wrong plainly and seeking mercy. He had genuinely wronged David; and now he might have tried to excuse or defend himself. But instead he confesses: I have sinned. He owns his wrong without excuse, comes humbly, and pleads for mercy rather than justice. His approach is not self-justification but honest confession. Take that to my heart, for when I have wronged another, I can be tempted to excuse or defend myself rather than confess and seek mercy. When I have done wrong, especially to another person, my instinct can be to justify myself, to excuse, to defend; but Shimei confessed his wrong plainly and sought mercy. When I have wronged someone, keep me from excusing or defending myself; help me confess my wrong plainly, as Shimei did, and humbly seek mercy. Help me own my fault without excuse, Lord, coming humbly to seek pardon, rather than justifying myself; for honest confession and a plea for mercy is the way to be reconciled.