2 Samuel 16

2 Samuel 16:1

ZIBA, MEPHIBOSHETH’S SERVANT, DECEIVES DAVIDYou recall that Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s lame son. Because of David’s great love for Jonathan, he cared for Mephibosheth. Ziba, a servant of Mephibosheth, thought that the internal struggle within the house of David would give the house of Saul a chance to regain the throneMephibosheth was the sole heir to the throne. By telling his fictitious story, Ziba hoped to get something out of the estate of Mephibosheth. David, not having opportunity to check the facts, impetuously grants Ziba lands that had been Mephibosheth’s.

2 Samuel 16:5

SHIMEI CURSES DAVIDWhat Shimei said to David had some truth in it. David was a bloody man, and judgment was coming upon himthere was no question about that.

2 Samuel 16:9

Abishai, one of David’s men, was all for silencing this man permanently. Notice David’s reaction to what Shimei said.

2 Samuel 16:10

David was saying, “I don’t mind this outsider cursing me. I do not want to take revenge on him. The thing that is happening to me is the judgment of God. What disturbs me is that it is my own boy, Absalom, who is leading the rebellion against me.” We have been with David as he escaped from Jerusalem; now we go back to Jerusalem with Hushai as he offers his services to Absalom.

2 Samuel 16:15

Absalom is surprised that this trusted friend of his father’s did not go with him into exile.

2 Samuel 16:18

Hushai is saying that the man whom God and the people choose will be his man, although he is secretly planning to be a spy for David.

2 Samuel 16:20

Ahithophel advises Absalom to do an abominable thing, but it has great significance for Israel. Absalom’s act was a coarse and rude declaration that David’s rights had ended and that everything he owned now belonged to his son.

2 Samuel 16:23

The word of Ahithophel was obeyed without questionjust as if it had been the command of God. The act of Absalom fulfilled what the Lord had spoken to David: “Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun” (2Sa_12:11-12). We now find David back out in the dens and caves of the earth. What is he going to do? Absalom is going to try to win a victory over David’s forces. David, however, is an old veteran and knows how to fight. Absalom is doing a very dangerous thing by going against his father. The tragic thing is that David loves him and wants to save him. These were difficult days for David. I am sure by now that your heart goes out in sympathy to him. But David does not whimper or cry aloud. He says in substance, “Just as long as I know that things are right with God, I will bear these burdens that come upon me.” David was a great man, friend. He had committed an awful sin, but he is like a wonderful piece of statuary with one flaw in it. That is the way many Christians are today. Did you ever meet one who didn’t have a flaw? We all have flaws in our lives. Thank God that He will not throw us overboard because of the flaws.