Harm in Seeking Fights

Scripture: Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, so their whole family did not become as numerous as the Judeans. They lived in Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David became king ... Now five hundred men from these sons of Simeon went with Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the descendants of Ishi, as their leaders to Mount Seir. They struck down the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they still live there today. 1 Chronicles 4:27-31,42-43

Observation: As the chronicler documents the tribes and ancestry of the tribe of Simeon, we get information that seems to tell why their portion of the promised land was effectively lost and became part of Judah. Simeon's lot was inside Judah, an island in its center. However, we get three pieces of information here.

First, the descendants of Simeon did not have many kids, and thus they became a small tribe by population. Second, they did hold their allotment until David became king, meaning David probably made some decision that they had grown too small to really run their cities and either the cities were abandoned or Judah was allowed to take some of their land. Lastly, at some time a significant number of their men went to Mount Seir (in Moab) to fight, and then just stayed there instead of returning home.

Simeon has a strange relationship as a patriarch and thus as a tribe. Simeon was second-born, but when the birthright was taken away from Reuben, Simeon was passed over as well due to his actions at Shechem. When Jacob blesses his sons, Simeon's blessing is more like a curse, effectively stating that he kills and maims as he pleases because anger rules his actions. When it comes to the long-term outcome for the tribe, this appears to hold true ... Simeon doesn't find peace in his portion of land and multiply, but instead strikes out and attacks foreign lands and then stays there. Simeon would rather fight in and then defend land that isn't theirs, instead of simply resting and multiplying in land that was promised them by Yahweh.

Application: There is something profound about the quiet way the tribe of Simeon just sort of ... never does anything and then seemingly disappears, subsumed by Judah. It is rarely part of the narrative, given an odd portion of the promised land, and gone without any mention by the time of the 'divided kingdom' where it's said it's just the lands of Judah and Benjamin that are part of the south. Perhaps this insight today is the key to understanding what happened to Simeon; They would rather go in search of conflicts than just enjoy the good life where they are.

I think I used to be like Simeon, seeking 'fights'. I would try to 'win' a lot, and to win you gotta find someone to go against. I've learned how bad that is, and I've learned how many times God just tells us to relax, live life where we are, enjoy your safe home, and receive his blessings.

There is harm in seeking fights. Even if you win (and Simeon did 'win' at both Shechem and Mount Seir), you lose. You lose your personal peace and security, and you lose the blessings God wanted to give you instead of you trying to go out and take what you want. This is another example of yielding to the Lord's will in my life, and letting him give me what he deems good for me. I will continue to grow in this idea.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for all you have given me in life, especially my good, safe, and loving home. It is a blessing from you, and you have always provided for it by me simply staying where I am and trying to do good here. Again I say, thank you. I am better than I used to be, but please help me continue to develop a contrite heart, without conflict, and without any need to ever 'win'. Amen.