2 Samuel 16:1-23

These are very difficult days in David’s life.  He is on the run from his own son, and there are many people around him who were being both dishonest and disloyal.  However, David must have been constantly reminding himself that he had brought these trials upon himself because of his adultery and murder.  In some ways that must have made this trial even harder; it is easier to suffer for doing what it right than it is to suffer knowing that we were wrong and have brought this suffering upon ourselves.  David must have been on the verge of depression.  It is important to remember this picture of David any time we are tempted to sin.  The pleasures that sin promise are short lived; this picture of David is a much more accurate portrait of the result of sin.

DAVID IS DECEIVED  Ziba is the caretaker of Mephibosheth and comes out to meet David with gifts of animals to help with David’s flight along with food and drink for David and his men.  This was a very generous gift that was very useful to David.  The problem comes about when David asks about Mephibosheth; Ziba lies to David and tells him that Mephibosheth has stayed in Jerusalem in hopes of having Saul’s kingdom restored to him since David was fleeing.  David becomes angry and transfers all of Mephibosheth’s property to Ziba.  David should have know the importance of hearing both sides of the story before making a decision.  David’s desperation and perhaps his depression have caused him to make snap judgments and decisions that he will later come to regret.  It is important to listen carefully and make decisions slowly when we are facing desperate days.

DAVID IS DEFIED: Shemei is another member of Saul’s family who no comes out and curses David for having shed so much blood.  David’s men want to go up and Shut Shemei up for good, but David does not permit it.  He simply lets Shemei go off and almost seems to accept it as if it were coming from God Himself.  David knew that he deserved all that he was getting and more so he does not react to this cursing.  David shows great restraint, humility and wisdom in this response.  We must learn to let the Lord defend us and not be quick to take matters into our own hands.

DAVID IS DEFILED: When Absalom enters Jerusalem, Ahithophel counsels him to go into David’s house and sleep with the concubines so that he will be making a clear break from David.  This seems like very strange advice, but I am sure that news of this even made David’s blood boil.  However, David must have recognized that his is what God has said would happen.  David’s adultery was done in the “privacy” of his own home; Absalom is doing this on the top of the roof so that all of Israel could see what was happening.  I wonder if David was thinking that his sin was worth it now.  We must never forget of God ability to reward our obedience in amazing ways.  However, He has exactly the same ability to discipline us for our disobedience.  The former is much easier than the latter.