A powerful story buried in the first days of Solomon’s reign is of a man who had everything he needed to live — but could not let go of selfish desires and his lust for more.
His name was Shimei.
Years earlier, when King David was running from Absalom, Shimei came out of the hills of Benjamin and cursed him. Shimei threw stones. He shouted accusations. He mocked David in one of the lowest moments of David's life.
David's general, Abishai, wanted to kill him. David said no. David understood that a man of God doesn't answer every insult. Strength is not proven by revenge. Strength is proven by restraint.
When David returned to the throne, Shimei begged for mercy. David spared his life.
Years later, David's last words would be raw, personal, real, and without pretense. In his final words to Solomon, David said, “That man Shimei. You will know what to do to him. Do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.” (See 1 Kings 2.)
King Solomon knew the hearts of men who do not honor God. In wisdom, he gave Shimei mercy with boundaries. “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there," Solomon told Shimei. "But don't leave the city. The day you leave, you'll surely die.”
Shimei had a house, money, servants, safety. He had a city. He had a future. He had his life.
Yet three years after Solomon's command, when two of Shimei's servants ran away to Gath, Shimei couldn't stop himself. He couldn't let them go--for money, pride, and lust. He chased them all the way to Gath.
Gath was enemy territory--one of the great Philistine cities, Goliath's home. Gath represented old enemies, old battles, old pride, old intimidation, and pagan strength standing against the people of God.
Shimei had all that he needed — but his lust motivated him to risk everything for what had run away. Pride blinded him to the constraints of the blessing and mercy he was living in.
It's the sin that so easily grabs us. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes. The pride of life.
Shimei broke his word, crossed the boundary, thereby violating the mercy that gave him life, and Solomon judged him according to his own agreement. Shimei was executed just 36 months after receiving freedom in a luxurious lifestyle in a guarded city.
Shimei was not killed by Solomon. He was killed by his own lust. Lust he would not crucify. Pride he would not repent of.
Sin promises to please and to serve, but only desires to enslave and dominate. Lust promises satisfaction and produces slavery. Lust says, “Go get what belongs to you,” while wisdom says, “Stay in the house of grace.”
Shimei had luxury, but not lordship over his own soul.
Brother, don’t go down to Gath. Don't leave the blessing of God to chase the thing God told you to leave alone.
Lust kills slowly before it kills suddenly. It weakens conviction. It dulls discernment. It bends the truth. It justifies the pursuit.
Jesus called us out of slavery and into glorious sonship. Today, He calls you again out of appetite and into authority. Out of grasping and into generosity. Out of the world’s temptation and into the Father’s blessing.
The world will always send men running toward Gath. God calls us to live and thrive in his grace, freedom, and truth.
Don't go down to Gath.
Your future is in Christ.
Stay in the blessing.
