May 20, 2014 - Tuesday

Start Time: 6:45 A.M.

End Time: 7:23 A.M.

Title: David and Ziba

Scripture: 2 Samuel 16:1 – 23

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→  When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.  The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”  The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”  Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” “I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

NOTES:

Ø God uses unexpected people to help His people in difficult times!  Ziba was the steward of Mephibosheth, a servant.  Yet here is Ziba, giving donkeys, food and drinks for David.  We know that David was kind ot mephibosheth because he was the son of Jonathan and maybe we thought we can expect help from him knowing what David did towards him, but that did not happen.  Instead we find his steward, Ziba, doing what was not expected of him.  It is possible that Ziba witnessed David’s kindness to Mephibosheth, which led him to show this kindness and goodness to the king during this low moment of the king’s live.  Let us then know that our actions reflect who we are and people identify to us because of what we do.  So we are to always represent God in our actions so people see that we are of God’s.

→As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.” But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

NOTES:

Ø God taught David to trust in Him fully no matter what and He gave David the wisdom to understand that everything that happens to him are permitted by God for a purpose and David did not question nor get angry because of it.  Wow!  What an amazing character that is.  Here David came to ask for help but the people he expected to help him, cursed him and drove him away.  When his men wants to fight for him, David stopped them and said that God allowed it and only God can stop it!  Amazing!  God knew that every attack, every battle that he is facing is with God’s permission and only God can save him from all of it.  What an amazing trust david has in God!  I hope we have the same heart and the same trust to God.

→Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?” Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him.  Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.” Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?” Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

NOTES:

Ø God has the power to change one person’s perspective and point of view!  Ahithophel was speaking in behalf of God during those days and his advices were regarded as words from the Lord but when Absalom conquered the city and Ahithophel chose to side with him, david made a prayer to make Ahitophel’s advices foolish.  God granted that and as you can see the 1^st advice of Ahitophel to Absalom was foolish and may have destroyed his reputation.  From being the kind son who won the heart of many, now he has become a son who slept with David’s concubine – again this is to fulfill what God has said to David thru Nathan that he will expose his sin to the public (regarding bathsheeba). 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, great and powerful God.  The Great I am and wondrous Father; I adore You and I know that You have all the power and glory.  Lord I praise Your Name and I lift You up because You alone are truly deserving to be praised and worship.  Lord thank You because You are truly in control of everything.  Thank You because whatever happens whether good or bad, it only happens to us with Your permission.  And because of that we can be assured that You have our backs at all times.  Lord thank You because You used unexpected people to answer and provide us the support we need.  And at times we seek help from the wrong places or the wrong people, still we can be confident that when we come to You, help is on its way from unexpected people.  Thank You Lord for today I learned that all we truly need is You, even in our difficult times because in the end, if the troubles we have in life are there with Your permission, it is only because of You that it will be taken away or resolved.  Lord help me to realize this every time I am in difficult situations.  Let me know that things happen for a reason and when it happens in me, even if I don’t like it, I must know that only You can remove it.  Give me that understanding and heart, like David, who trusts no one but only You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!