The way David responds to Shimei provides wonderful biblical advice on forgiveness. The account reveals what David said to his men that allowed him to respond so patiently to a man who was mistreating him unjustly. Was David always this patient? Not in the account with Nabal! What took place in David’s life that caused him to respond to Shimei so much differently than he responded to Nabal?

Table of contentsFamily Worship Guide for Biblical Advice on Forgiveness from DavidSermon Notes for Biblical Advice on Forgiveness from DavidLesson One: We can forgive others easier by thinking about (part one) God’s sovereignty.Lesson One: We can forgive others easier by thinking about (part two) God’s goodness to us in return.Lesson One: We can forgive others easier by thinking about (part three) our sins.Lesson Two: Christ’s forgiveness is greater than David’s.

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The way David responds to Shimei provides wonderful biblical advice on forgiveness. The account reveals what David said to his men.

Family Worship Guide for Biblical Advice on Forgiveness from David

Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions:

Day 1: Psalm 10:14, 39:8, 2 Samuel 16:10-12, Job 2:9, Luke 6:22, Hebrews 10:34—Why did David twice say that God told Shimei to curse? Why do you think this encouraged David? How can thinking about God’s sovereignty make forgiveness easier? Why did David think God would repay him? How can God’s goodness when we are mistreated make forgiveness easier for us?

Day 2: 1 Samuel 25:8-12, Luke 7:47—Can you think of individuals in Scripture, besides David, who were kind to those who mistreated them? Did God seem to reward them? Why do you think David treated Shimei differently than he treated Nabal? How does thinking about our sins make forgiveness easier?

Day 3: 2 Samuel 19:16-23 cf. 1 Kings 2:8-9, Hebrews 6:17—Why did Shimei hurry to meet David and 2 Samuel 19? How did David respond to Shimei? Why do you think David went back on his forgiveness before passing the throne to Solomon? In what ways is Jesus’s forgiveness greater than David’s?

Sermon Notes for Biblical Advice on Forgiveness from David

The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Biblical Advice on Forgiveness from David.”

On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse. We finished a convicting passage on forgiveness. I told you that I wanted to look at an example of forgiveness in the Old Testament, and I chose this account with David and Shimei.

This is our second message on this passage. Last week we talked about Shimei, why he hated David, and what we could learn from him about the dangers of being accusing.

This morning we’re going to focus on David who we will see forgive Shimei.

David is famously known as the Man after God’s own heart. Perhaps you have wondered why he would be given this title when he committed such terrible sins as adultery and murder. At least part of the reason must be his forgiving heart…which makes him look like a man after God’s own heart because of how forgiving God is.

The greatest example of David’s forgiveness occurred with Saul. When you can forgive a man who spent years trying to murder you, you know that you’re good at forgiving.

But I wanted to look at this example with Shimei, for two reasons…

First, I think we can relate to it better. I hope none of you have ever had someone try to murder you for years, but I suspect all of us have had people curse us and throw rocks at us…at least figuratively.

Second, slander is one of the more difficult sins to forgive, at least for me, because slander involves untrue accusations. Just in case any of you are unfamiliar with the differences between gossip and slander, let me briefly explain them:

Gossip is sharing negative information about people with others who have no business knowing that information. But at least the information is true.