God told Shimei to curse David even though it was wrong for Shimei to do it?

[tonychanyt]

Shimei cursed David in (ESV) 2 Samuel 16:

11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.”

In David's head, God could have told Shimei to curse David, even though it was wrong for Shimei to do it.

Well, not exactly, the Hebrew was ambiguous. Septuagint translated it as "will look upon my affliction".

NIV:

It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.

In David's head, God could have told Shimei to curse David, so that God would see David's affliction and response, have pity on David, and replace the curse with a blessing.

What was in David’s head?

1. God was sovereign over human actions. Even though Shimei acted out of personal hatred, David attributed the cursing to God’s ultimate control. Whether God directly commanded or simply allowed Shimei’s actions, David viewed them all as part of God’s sovereign will.
2. David perceived his suffering as a test or a form of discipline. By enduring Shimei’s cursing without retaliation, he demonstrated humility.
3. David expressed hope that God would transform the curse into a blessing. He had faith in God and believed that God would ultimately vindicate him, despite his current suffering.

In David’s mind, God could have either commanded or permitted Shimei to curse him, even though Shimei’s actions were sinful and motivated by personal animosity.