1 Kings 2:39

1 Kings 2:39 says, And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.  Two years after Solomon told Shimei basically not to leave his house, two of his servants ran away to Gath.  Shemei then had a dilemma. This was definitely outside the area that Solomon had confined him to, but he couldn't reclaim his servants without leaving the area.  Sometimes, we may have to make a choice between obeying God oe exercising our own authority.  Verse forty adds, And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.  Shemei decided to disobey Solomon's order and go to Gath.  He went and brought his servants back.  He may have thought that Solomon wouldn't know, or if he did that because of the circumstances he would make an exception to his rule.  We may do things against God's laws today believing He will never know or that He will make an exception for us under our circumstances, but this is not going to happen.  Verse forty-one continues, And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.  Solomon was told, or found out, about what Shimei had done.  No one has to tell God in order for Him to find out if we fail to follow His commandments, because He will always know already.  Verse forty-two states, And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.  Solomon had Shemei brought to him and asked him if he hadn't been told that if he went traveling about that the day he did he would die.  One day, as followers of Christ, even though we have everlasting life, we are going to be called before God and asked about our actions.   Of course, if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will be called before God and asked if we didn't know that our failure to do so brought a spiritual death sentence.  Circumstances will not justify us in either case.  Verse forty-three adds, Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?  Solomon asked Shemei why he hadn't obeyed his oath to God and the commandment that Solomon himself had changed him with.  I believe one day if we have disobeyed God that He is going to ask us why. Verse forty-four continues, The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head; David reminded Shimei that he had done wickedness to David and had never been held responsible for it.  We may do great wickedness to God today and never pay for it in this lifetime, but one day, we will have to answer to Him for it.  Verse forty-five says, And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.  Just as Solomon to Shemei that he was going to be established as king before the LORD and was to be obeyed by the people of Israel, Jesus Christ has been declared the eternal King of all, even those who do not put their faith in Him.  Verse forty-six adds,  So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.  Solomon had Benaiah kill  Shimei, and Solomon's kingdom was established.   Jesus Christ's kingdom was established not by killing His enemies but by dying for them.  We either are saved by accepting His sacrifice for us on the cross, or one day we will be sent away to everlasting punishment because we didn't.