Vicious Enemies
The Lord's greatest people are known for two things: trusted friends they develop and rely on AND vicious enemies that attack them.
2 Samuel 16:2–4 (ESV) And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’ ” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Into the drama of David's exile arrives Ziba, the former servant of Saul. Commentators agree this exchange is terrible for David. He takes Ziba's word that Mephibosheth is thinking Absalom (of all people!) is ready to hand the kingdom back over to him as the rightful heir of King Saul. Ziba's answer to David's first question is suspicious as well - suggesting he's concerned for the men and women, playing on the king's concern for his people. The whole exchange smells foul and the rest of the narrative will prove that Ziba is deceptive here.
The next event in the narrative includes a former relative of Saul, named Shimei, cursing David and blaming his troubles on the fact that he shed much blood.
2 Samuel 16:5 (ESV) When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually.
2 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!
David gets attacked by two associates of Saul and the chapter reminds Christians that the man or woman who does God's will meets many vicious enemies throughout the journey.
David's response to Shimei is one to behold. While his associate is ready to kill him (Abishai, the same who sought to strike down Saul for David), David puts his life in the hands of the Lord:
2 Samuel 16:11 (ESV) And 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.”
Notice David's agreement with the theme of scripture and the central reality of the Gospel that God brings good out of evil. Joseph expressed this in Genesis to his brothers and Jesus' finished work exemplifies this at the cross. David knows the past of Israel and he points forward to its climactic fulfillment.
It teaches you and me how to respond to haters. They will be there and we should expect them. To be hated by this world is a sign you are accepted in the next. If you need everyone to like you, you may not be doing what God wants for you to do. I heard good advice for preachers (like me) recently. "If you liked, tell people what they WANT to hear. If you want to help, tell them what they NEED to hear." The point is, you can't tell anyone what they need to hear if you rely on their approval. David puts his life in the hand of the Lord who brings good out of the evil our enemies seek to bring us. This method will prove right very soon.
Let us not ignore, either, that once again, David goes to a place where he can "refresh himself" in God. The episode ends:
2 Samuel 16:14 (ESV) And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.
We remember this same tactic of David after his men lost their village, wives, and children in 1 Samuel 30. David had a living relationship with the Lord. He called to Him for strength in the hard times. We MUST do the same. Do not fall into the trap that you have to have your life together to call out to God. He's the healer of our souls and the lifter of our head. He's an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Samuel 16:2–4 (ESV) And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’ ” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Into the drama of David's exile arrives Ziba, the former servant of Saul. Commentators agree this exchange is terrible for David. He takes Ziba's word that Mephibosheth is thinking Absalom (of all people!) is ready to hand the kingdom back over to him as the rightful heir of King Saul. Ziba's answer to David's first question is suspicious as well - suggesting he's concerned for the men and women, playing on the king's concern for his people. The whole exchange smells foul and the rest of the narrative will prove that Ziba is deceptive here.
The next event in the narrative includes a former relative of Saul, named Shimei, cursing David and blaming his troubles on the fact that he shed much blood.
2 Samuel 16:5 (ESV) When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually.
2 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!
David's response to Shimei is one to behold. While his associate is ready to kill him (Abishai, the same who sought to strike down Saul for David), David puts his life in the hands of the Lord:
2 Samuel 16:11 (ESV) And 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.”
Notice David's agreement with the theme of scripture and the central reality of the Gospel that God brings good out of evil. Joseph expressed this in Genesis to his brothers and Jesus' finished work exemplifies this at the cross. David knows the past of Israel and he points forward to its climactic fulfillment.
It teaches you and me how to respond to haters. They will be there and we should expect them. To be hated by this world is a sign you are accepted in the next. If you need everyone to like you, you may not be doing what God wants for you to do. I heard good advice for preachers (like me) recently. "If you liked, tell people what they WANT to hear. If you want to help, tell them what they NEED to hear." The point is, you can't tell anyone what they need to hear if you rely on their approval. David puts his life in the hand of the Lord who brings good out of the evil our enemies seek to bring us. This method will prove right very soon.
Let us not ignore, either, that once again, David goes to a place where he can "refresh himself" in God. The episode ends:
2 Samuel 16:14 (ESV) And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.
We remember this same tactic of David after his men lost their village, wives, and children in 1 Samuel 30. David had a living relationship with the Lord. He called to Him for strength in the hard times. We MUST do the same. Do not fall into the trap that you have to have your life together to call out to God. He's the healer of our souls and the lifter of our head. He's an ever-present help in trouble.
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