As David flees Jerusalem from Absalom’s takeover, he ascends the Mount of Olives. We start this chapter as David is “a little past the top of the mountain.” He meets Ziba there, a servant of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. Of course we will remember that David had restored to Mephibosheth all the land that had belonged to Saul. There was loyalty between Mephibosheth and David, a parallel of the deep loyalty and love that was shared by Jonathan and David prior to Jonathan’s demise.
For this reason it must have been a great surprise to David when Ziba reported that Mephibosheth had stayed back in Jerusalem because, as Ziba puts it for Mephibosheth: “Today the house if Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.” Because of this supposed betrayal, David believes him and gives him all that Mephibosheth had. Of course we will find out late that Ziba was lying and that Mephibosheth did not leave Jerusalem for other reasons. Ziba most likely lied to David because he was caught up in the campaign against David woven by Absalom.
Then, Shimei, a member of Saul’s family, sees and curses David along the mountaintop. David tolerates this treatment, perhaps unsurprised, and says in verse 12, “It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” David’s strength under pressure and his faith in God were strong and reliable in this moment.
Back in Jerusalem, Absalom is attempting to consolidate his newfound power. Ahithophel, David’s advisor, is now in Absalom’s ear and advises Absalom to pitch his tent where all of the people of Jerusalem can see that he is going in to David’s concubines. This will show that Absalom has taken power from David and it will do so in a way that everyone in the city will know. Furthermore, it completes God’s punishment for David from II Samuel 12:11: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.” You may take the opportunity to blame Ahithophel for counseling the evil Absalom to subvert power from David so publicly, but that assertion loses power when it is also considered that this act over David also fulfills prophecy from Nathan and punishes David for his great sin with Bathsheba and subsequently Uriah.
Now, let us look at a few lessons we can take from this chapter:
- Skepticism in the face of incredible stories is a healthy thing
- We might take the well-known phrase to “trust but verify” here. David had only just re-established Mephibosheth with Saul’s land, but David did not have any concrete reason to believe that Mephibosheth was ungrateful to him or unwilling to be loyal. The truth came out later – Mephibosheth stayed in Jerusalem for an entirely different reason. Had David asked more questions or been a little more patient with his judgments, he might have not told Ziba that he could have all that was Mephibosheth’s. During this tumultuous time in the kingdom of shifting loyalties, David may have been more careful. Trust is earned before it is broken.
- Enduring insults with humility can honor God
- What would it have looked like if David had lashed out? He would have been arguing with an angry man, perhaps one whose reason had lapsed into foolishness, and he would not have gotten justice, fairness, retribution, nor would he have convinced Shimei that he was in the wrong. Instead, David turned the insults into an opportunity to seek God’s blessing. Think about this example. This was not weakness. This was strength.
- Both good and bad advice are freely given in this world
- It is not difficult to garner someone else’s opinion if you are looking for it. In fact it is quite easy. More challenging, however, is discerning the quality of the advice received. Does it serve the purpose of glorifying God? Does it serve my best (selfish) interests or does it serve my best (godly) interests? Stop, think, pray: then decide when weighing a difficult decision mixed all up with advice from others.
Monday Night Bible Study 