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2Samuel
CHAPTER 16

1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

How well do you listen when things aren't going well in your life? When you are mentally and physically exhausted, and emotionally spent - do you pay close attention and make good decisions?
This is the lesson here. Do you remember Ziba? He was the servant of Saul who was placed in charge of Mephibosheth's lands by David. He was to take care of all that Mephibosheth had, and return all the profits to his master. In reward for his service, he has the honor of seeing to all the land as it were his own. He has sole authority. But he does not have the TITLE! And THAT'S what he wants!
He comes to David and brings gifts (much needed at this time). When David asked about Mephibosheth, Ziba made up a story that David SHOULD have recognized as false. But David is mentally, physically and emotionally tired. He's just "going through the motions" at the moment, seeking to obtain a place of refuge and safety for himself, his family and his servants.
Ziba falsely accuses his master - Mephibosheth. He tells an outright lie. David makes a quick and rash judgment.
How often do people receive wrong judgments because others have maligned them? How often do we think unjustly of otherse because someone has spread gossip?
David, as king, effectively too Mephibosheth's lands and gave them to Ziba.
Later, when he finds out the truth, David will restore the land. And as sentence to Ziba, he will have to CONTINUE serving Mephibosheth.

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

When a person is undergoing emotional stress, he usually has a low opinion of himself. Sometimes that's GOOD for us. David's day has been pretty bad - and now it just gets worse!
Here, Shimei, comes cursing David and acting in a very obscene manner toward him. Shimei is a recognized leader of Saul's family (Benjamites). Therefore, this is a very public display.
But notice how David responds in meekness and in great self-discipline. He could easily have had Shimei killed (verse 9). But instead, David chose to "bear" the actions of this man who conferred upon him such disgrace. What was David's reasoning? See verse 12. Sometimes our "chastisement" from God comes in verbal display from others. If we "bear" it, and do not react in selfishness, God might respond with reward.
Sometimes people unjustly "persecute" (see Psalm 69:26) those who have been chastised by God. David is obviously being chastised by the Lord for his sinful acts because his own son is trying to take away the kingdom. Now Shimea is adding grief to grief! This is almost a replay of Job's friends.
When things seem to be going wrong for you, particularly if you KNOW God is working in your life, do not respond flippanlty to those who add grief to grief!

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

Notice that David and his company found REST and RELIEF in the same place where he was acosted.
OH! What a great God we have! Even in the middle of conflict and shame, He can give us rest and peace!

15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? 18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. 19 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence. 20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

Absalom comes quickly to Jerusalem to take the throne now that David has run.
Ahithopel joined Absalom. Ahithopel had been David's chief counselor once, but for some reason he had moved away. Some say he retired. But I think something else may have happened. Ahithopel was the father of Eliam (2Samuel 23:24), and Eliam was Bathsheba's father (2Samuel 11:3). Therefore, Ahithopel was Bathsheba's grandfather.
Perhaps the reason he left David and moved to Giloh is because he "broke" with David over the treatment of Bathsheba and Uriah (her husband whom David had killed). And, perhaps, Ahithopel is STILL angry with David over that matter. This would certainly explain his "counsel" to Absalom.
Ahithopel's counsel was very valued and considered to come from God. He had proven himself to be a wise and educated man in public affairs. People assumed he was dedicated to God and inquired of the Lord before giving his advice.
Absalom asked for advice on what he should do FIRST! (verse 20).
Ahithopel told him to "go in" to David's concubines that he had left.
Beware of them who pretend to be godly and good but give advice contrary to God's Word!
God's Word plainly states that adultery is a crime punishable by death! Did Ahithopel not know that he was causing a breach between father and son that could NEVER be mended?
This advice certainly did NOT come from God! Perhaps it was from the heart of a man who had steeped in anger for a very long time.
Absalom should have recognized this as wrong, but he took the advice literally, and spread a tent on top of the house so EVERYONE could see his evil deed (verse 22).
But one thing we must note: God is ALWAYS true to His Word - even sometimes using the wickedness of men. God had prophesied to David that this would happen (2Samuel 12:11).
God knows ALL things before they happen! God is perfect, and is able to work through the wickedness of men to achief His goal of salvation to any who will repent. And God is able to do all that without ever infringing upon man's free will.
What an amazing God we have!

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