2 Samuel 19:16

2 Samuel 19:16 says, 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.  Shemei a Benjamite hurried down to meet David with the men of Judah.   Jesus Christ is the Conquering King, and if we haven't accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, we should be in a hurry to do so when He comes near.  Verse seventeen adds, 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.  Along with the thousand men of Benjamin were Ziba and his fifteen sons and twenty servants.  Ziba had deceived David into giving him the land of Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, and now he was quick to at least pretend to show his support for David, even though he had not gone to help him while Absalom was pursuing him.  Some people will always be quick to support whoever is in power, even if they have previously stood with those who were against them.  Verse eighteen continues, 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;   Matthew Henry says that there hadn't been as great of a crossing of the Jordan since Joshua had crossed over.  The Jordsn didn't part, but David crossed over without getting wet on a ferry boat.  One day, we as Christians will all cross safely into heaven and we won't have to struggle to do so.  Shimei, who had cursed David when he was out of power was there to praise him now. We should never be surprised if people of the world switch back and forth between cursing and praising God depending on how those in power treat Him.  Verse nineteen states, 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.   Shimei asked David to not hold him responsible for the things he said when David left Jerusalem.  He said that David shouldn't take what he said to heart.  If we do not accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, one day we are going to be standing before Him asking Him to not take our rejection of Him to heart, but then it will be too late.  Verse twenty adds. 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.  Shimei confessed that he had sinned against David and said he came as one of the first from the house of Joseph to come to him to ask his forgiveness.  All we as sinners can do is to come to God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ and ask God's forgiveness, and it doesn't matter what family we come from.   We can never justify ourselves before God.  Verse twenty-one continues, 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?  Abishai asked if Shimei should not be put to death because he had cursed David, the Lord's anointed.  There are still people today, even some Christians, who would gladly see sinners condemned to hell instead of being forgiven.  Some Christians look down on others proclaiming them to be unfit to be forgiven.  Verse twenty-two says, 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?  David rejected Abishai's suggestion, asking if he, David himself, did not know that he was king of Israel without putting those who had opposed him to death and adding yhat there would be no man put to death that day.  Even though we deserve everlasting punishment, if we confess our sins and come to Jesus asking for forgiveness, He will give us everlasting life with Him.  Jesus will never reject anyone who comes to Him asking for forgiveness, no matter how much they may have fought against Him before, and we as Christians should never believe that some people deserve God's punishment and hope for it to happen.  Verse twenty-three adds, Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.  David told Shemei that he would not die for his actions, but David forgave him and swore to it.  As Christians, we will never be spiritually separated from God and He has already sworn to this when He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place.