“Three Voices” • 4.1.08 • Autonomy, Authority And The Man Of God, Session #27
Intro.
- David has been run out of his Kingdom by his treasonous son Absalom. It is a humiliating time for the once invulnerable King of Israel. Things are bad, but all is not lost in David’s heart
- Zadok the priest and Abiathar are taking the Ark along on the journey, when David commands them to return to Jerusalem with the ark, in hopes that he will one day return to it.
- David sends them back, not just to return to the ark, but to be his eyes and ears as well.
• II Samuel 15:28 : “See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
- Along the way, news comes to David, that his advisor, Ahithophel, has joined Absalom’s ranks. This is not great news. As David continues, he comes across a sympathizer in another of his counselors, Hushai.
- Hushai wants to join David, but his usefulness to David would be better suited in Jersualem.
• II Samuel 15:33-36 : “David said to him, ‘If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.’”
- David has his three spies in the land, as he continues to travel out of it. Along the way, Ziba meets him with an extravagent gift.
• II Samuel 16:2,3 : “And the king said to Ziba, ‘What do you mean to do with these?’ So Ziba said, ‘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 are faint in the wilderness to drink.’ Then the king said, ‘And where is your master’s son?’ And Ziba said to the king, ‘Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’”
- Here was a man who David showed great kindness to. Now, it seems that he is viewing David’s exile as an opportunity to receive the Kingdom back to himself.
- The final blow came from a man named Shimei, who cursed at David continuously.
• II Samuel 16:7,8 : “Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: ‘Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!’”
- Shimei harrassed David’s group as he continued on his way out of the city.
- There are three men who encounter David along the way, who are not only unsympathetic, but are. David responds to each of these men, and it’s that reaction that I want us to have for our thoughts today, specifically because we as Christians will face criticism and discouragement.
- How are men under the authority of God to handle such things?
- Let’s take a look at it from the angle of the type of men that encounter David.
- The news was that a trusted friend and confidant, had betrayed David.
- Ahithophel is a person who has stayed in the background, not even gaining a mention up to this point. It seems that his claim to fame will be this infamy.
- It’s sad what a person can be known for. “Oh, he’s the guy that shot President Kennedy” or “she’s the gal who conspired to destroy Nancy Kerrigan’s leg!”
- These people are marked for their treacherous deeds. So also is Ahithophel.
- Ahithophel was a counselor, one of David’s cabinet according to I Chronicles 27:33.
- But Ahithophel was not any ordinary counselor. He was especially gifted.
• II Samuel 16:23 : “Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”
- He was in a priviledged, sensitive position, given to only a few, to know and counsel the King.
- To hear his name among the conspirators must have been difficult for David, as he felt the sting of his counselors betrayal.
- Why did Ahithophel do this? Was it for political reasons? Was he a coward who did not want to run with David, a defeated man?
- In the hearts of men, no good thing resides. Men, for the sake of political expediency would sell their own children for a move up the ladder. Perhaps that was Ahithophel’s reasoning.
- However, there is something that is a little more sophisticated in this narrative that takes a little help to discover.
• II Samuel 11:3 : “So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’”
- As we stated in the message that covered that passage, Bath-Sheba was someone’s daughter and someone’s wife. Eliam was her father. Who was Eliam?
• II Samuel 23:34 : “Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,”
- Eliam, it turns out, was one of the 37 men who were in charge of the King’s security. His father, who in turn is Bath-Sheba’s grandfather, was Ahithophel.
- Ahithophel, one could surmise then, was out to exact revenge against David for his actions with Bath-Sheba. We are not told exactly if that was the case, but it would be a good case.
- What we do know is that David had a response beginning with the absent of late, words, “O Lord.” David was back in a posture of prayer, something that we did not see in the last session.
- David’s prayer was quick and to the point: “Turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
- The Hebrew carries a little irony in the statement. Ahithophel’s name means “my brother is a fool.” Turn my brother is a fool’s counsel into foolishness itself!
- What’s important is that David goes to the Lord and asks God to take this counsel and turn it’s effect in an opposite direction.
- David later wrote about this chapter in his personal blog, the Psalms. This Psalm attests to God’s hand with David, even though all, including his closest counselor, turned against him.
• Psalm 3:1-4 : “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ Selah But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill”
- Where will your help come from? Sometimes, the Lord allows us to go friendless, and for every human well to dry up, in order that we might see him as our shield and our help.
- David ran first to his help in time of trouble. We don’t see it yet, but the Lord answered and heard his cry.
- At that time, you will recall that Ziba was given charge of all of the land that David had kindly returned to Mephibosheth.
- Mephibosheth had been given wonderful privileges beside the land. He also was invited daily to sit at the King’s table, as if he were one of David’s own son.
- That is the context of this moment. Ziba has a kingly spread with him, with transportation and an assortment of fruits.
- David can’t comprehend what is happening here. Ziba has brought a gift with essential supplies that were necessary for David’s flight. But it leads David to consider why Mephibosheth was not there with him.
- Ziba tells him a story about the intentions of Mephibosheth to receive the Kingdom back from the exiled David. This must have been a great shock to David.
- Can you imagine in this moment David’s smile, going to a deep frown. The thoughts that must have been going through David’s mind further troubled him. “Was Mephibosheth always plotting this way against me, just biding his time, waiting for the right opportunity?”
- Instead of joining, protecting and returning the kindness that had been shared with him, it seems in this moment that Mephibosheth is using David’s demotion as an occasion for promotion!
- Thankfully, this is not the end of the story. Later we discover that this story that was told by Ziba was a calculated lie.
• II Samuel 19:26,27 : “And he answered, ‘My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.”
- Ziba slandered, told a malicious lie about Mephibosheth’s character and broke David’s heart in the same moment, all so that he would look better in the eyes of David.
- David assumed that Ziba was telling the truth and gave all of Mephibosheth’s land and possessions into Ziba’s hand. David erred here. Consider the context.
- David has lost his Kingdom. The hearts of the people are with Absalom, so much as he can tell. Everywhere around him there is a negative vibe.
- He hears this negative report, and without checking into the truth, assumes that Ziba is telling him the truth. His judgment to give everything to Ziba, shows us a man who has given up.
- Sometimes, it’s just easier to believe one report. It’s easier to just accept that someone is telling the truth without hearing both sides of a given story.
- But David would have saved himself some heartache here if he would have simply withheld judgement and waited to verify what had been heard.
- You can tell that he was not in favor of David’s administration. In fact, if it were up to him, Saul, his countrymen, would have remained in office. His attack against David is most cowardly.
• II Samuel 16:8 : “The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!’’
- He was accusatory, angry about David’s take over of power. Shimei’s case was based on faulty or only partially known knowledge. Cowards rarely have the need for a full knowledge of any situation and Shimei is no exception.
His lack of knowledge was likely purposeful, as it’s easier to believe a lie, than to accept the truth. And when you believe the lie, it’s easier to justify hatred and ill-will.
- The only thing that Shimei got right, at least partially, was that the Lord had brought this upon David, not for his sin against Saul, but for his sin with Bath-Sheba.
- David had been a man of war, but was not bloodthirsty. And while he had been appointed King, it was Saul who organized his own demise.
- This type of half knowledgeable, ignorant attack is the harderst of the three to take.
- The men around David can barely stand it, asking David to grant them permission to remove the head from Shimei’s shoulders.
- David proves here that he is not bloodthirsty, not by argument, but simply by not removing his head! How often we give the enemy what they want by doing exactly the things that are expected from us! David did not lower himself to that level.
˚ “David could take this fellow’s head off and that in a moment, and yet he said, “Let him alone. Let him curse.” And this makes a splendid example. If you can revenge yourself, DON’T. If you could do it as easily as open your hand, keep it shut. If one bitter word could end the argument, ask for grace to spare that bitter word.”
- “The Lord has ordered him” to do this. David felt that Shimei was appointed to this task by the Lord. What is a deposed King to do at a moment like this? David gives himself and the hurt that he is enduring at the hands of Shimei into the hands of the Lord.
- Notice this phrase. It may be that the Lord will repay me with good.
- David kept this in perspective. This man may be here now, torturing my soul. But God may turn this around for me, for my good!
Conclusion
- We will encounter people or groups like this, especially in the age of nameless and faceless blogging! There will be some like Ahithophel, close confidants who will betray.
- There will be Zibas, who lie straight to our face for unknown reasons.
- Then there are the ignorant ramblers like Shimei, who will hurl stones and insults from a safe distance! It’s best here to let the Lord have the final say.
• Matthew 5:11 : “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
- Zadok the priest and Abiathar are taking the Ark along on the journey, when David commands them to return to Jerusalem with the ark, in hopes that he will one day return to it.
- David sends them back, not just to return to the ark, but to be his eyes and ears as well.
• II Samuel 15:28 : “See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
- Along the way, news comes to David, that his advisor, Ahithophel, has joined Absalom’s ranks. This is not great news. As David continues, he comes across a sympathizer in another of his counselors, Hushai.
- Hushai wants to join David, but his usefulness to David would be better suited in Jersualem.
• II Samuel 15:33-36 : “David said to him, ‘If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.’”
- David has his three spies in the land, as he continues to travel out of it. Along the way, Ziba meets him with an extravagent gift.
• II Samuel 16:2,3 : “And the king said to Ziba, ‘What do you mean to do with these?’ So Ziba said, ‘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 are faint in the wilderness to drink.’ Then the king said, ‘And where is your master’s son?’ And Ziba said to the king, ‘Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’”
- Here was a man who David showed great kindness to. Now, it seems that he is viewing David’s exile as an opportunity to receive the Kingdom back to himself.
- The final blow came from a man named Shimei, who cursed at David continuously.
• II Samuel 16:7,8 : “Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: ‘Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!’”
- Shimei harrassed David’s group as he continued on his way out of the city.
- There are three men who encounter David along the way, who are not only unsympathetic, but are. David responds to each of these men, and it’s that reaction that I want us to have for our thoughts today, specifically because we as Christians will face criticism and discouragement.
- How are men under the authority of God to handle such things?
- Let’s take a look at it from the angle of the type of men that encounter David.
I. Ahithophel, The Betrayer (15:31)
II. Ziba, The Liar (16:1-4)
III. Shimei, The Loudmouth (16:10-12)
TextII. Ziba, The Liar (16:1-4)
III. Shimei, The Loudmouth (16:10-12)
I. Ahithophel, The Betrayer (15:31)
• II Samuel 15:31 : “Then someone told David, saying, ‘Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.’ And David said, ‘O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!’” : Someone told David about Ahithophel.- The news was that a trusted friend and confidant, had betrayed David.
- Ahithophel is a person who has stayed in the background, not even gaining a mention up to this point. It seems that his claim to fame will be this infamy.
- It’s sad what a person can be known for. “Oh, he’s the guy that shot President Kennedy” or “she’s the gal who conspired to destroy Nancy Kerrigan’s leg!”
- These people are marked for their treacherous deeds. So also is Ahithophel.
- Ahithophel was a counselor, one of David’s cabinet according to I Chronicles 27:33.
- But Ahithophel was not any ordinary counselor. He was especially gifted.
• II Samuel 16:23 : “Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”
- He was in a priviledged, sensitive position, given to only a few, to know and counsel the King.
- To hear his name among the conspirators must have been difficult for David, as he felt the sting of his counselors betrayal.
- Why did Ahithophel do this? Was it for political reasons? Was he a coward who did not want to run with David, a defeated man?
- In the hearts of men, no good thing resides. Men, for the sake of political expediency would sell their own children for a move up the ladder. Perhaps that was Ahithophel’s reasoning.
- However, there is something that is a little more sophisticated in this narrative that takes a little help to discover.
• II Samuel 11:3 : “So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’”
- As we stated in the message that covered that passage, Bath-Sheba was someone’s daughter and someone’s wife. Eliam was her father. Who was Eliam?
• II Samuel 23:34 : “Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,”
- Eliam, it turns out, was one of the 37 men who were in charge of the King’s security. His father, who in turn is Bath-Sheba’s grandfather, was Ahithophel.
- Ahithophel, one could surmise then, was out to exact revenge against David for his actions with Bath-Sheba. We are not told exactly if that was the case, but it would be a good case.
- What we do know is that David had a response beginning with the absent of late, words, “O Lord.” David was back in a posture of prayer, something that we did not see in the last session.
- David’s prayer was quick and to the point: “Turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
- The Hebrew carries a little irony in the statement. Ahithophel’s name means “my brother is a fool.” Turn my brother is a fool’s counsel into foolishness itself!
- What’s important is that David goes to the Lord and asks God to take this counsel and turn it’s effect in an opposite direction.
- David later wrote about this chapter in his personal blog, the Psalms. This Psalm attests to God’s hand with David, even though all, including his closest counselor, turned against him.
• Psalm 3:1-4 : “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ Selah But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill”
- Where will your help come from? Sometimes, the Lord allows us to go friendless, and for every human well to dry up, in order that we might see him as our shield and our help.
- David ran first to his help in time of trouble. We don’t see it yet, but the Lord answered and heard his cry.
II. Ziba, The Liar (16:1-4)
• II Samuel 16:1-4 : “When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba, ‘What do you mean to do with these?’ So Ziba said, ‘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 are faint in the wilderness to drink.’ Then the king said, ‘And where is your master’s son?’ And Ziba said to the king, ‘Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ So the king said to Ziba, ‘Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.’ And Ziba said, ‘I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!’” : On his way out of the city, David runs into Ziba, the servant of Saul that we met several chapters back.- At that time, you will recall that Ziba was given charge of all of the land that David had kindly returned to Mephibosheth.
- Mephibosheth had been given wonderful privileges beside the land. He also was invited daily to sit at the King’s table, as if he were one of David’s own son.
- That is the context of this moment. Ziba has a kingly spread with him, with transportation and an assortment of fruits.
- David can’t comprehend what is happening here. Ziba has brought a gift with essential supplies that were necessary for David’s flight. But it leads David to consider why Mephibosheth was not there with him.
- Ziba tells him a story about the intentions of Mephibosheth to receive the Kingdom back from the exiled David. This must have been a great shock to David.
- Can you imagine in this moment David’s smile, going to a deep frown. The thoughts that must have been going through David’s mind further troubled him. “Was Mephibosheth always plotting this way against me, just biding his time, waiting for the right opportunity?”
- Instead of joining, protecting and returning the kindness that had been shared with him, it seems in this moment that Mephibosheth is using David’s demotion as an occasion for promotion!
- Thankfully, this is not the end of the story. Later we discover that this story that was told by Ziba was a calculated lie.
• II Samuel 19:26,27 : “And he answered, ‘My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.”
- Ziba slandered, told a malicious lie about Mephibosheth’s character and broke David’s heart in the same moment, all so that he would look better in the eyes of David.
- David assumed that Ziba was telling the truth and gave all of Mephibosheth’s land and possessions into Ziba’s hand. David erred here. Consider the context.
- David has lost his Kingdom. The hearts of the people are with Absalom, so much as he can tell. Everywhere around him there is a negative vibe.
- He hears this negative report, and without checking into the truth, assumes that Ziba is telling him the truth. His judgment to give everything to Ziba, shows us a man who has given up.
- Sometimes, it’s just easier to believe one report. It’s easier to just accept that someone is telling the truth without hearing both sides of a given story.
- But David would have saved himself some heartache here if he would have simply withheld judgement and waited to verify what had been heard.
III. Shimei, The Loudmouth (16:10-12)
• II Samuel 16:10-12 : “But the king said, ‘What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ And David said to Abishai and all his servants, ‘See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.’” : Shimei comes on the scene and is immediately an annoyance.- You can tell that he was not in favor of David’s administration. In fact, if it were up to him, Saul, his countrymen, would have remained in office. His attack against David is most cowardly.
˚ “It is very hard to bear a cowardly attack. One is very apt to reply and use hard words to one who takes advantage of your position and deals you the coward’s blow. Only the coward strikes a man when he is down.”
- Outwardly, Shimei seemed to have a beef with David and what he believed to be a coup.Charles Spurgeon
• II Samuel 16:8 : “The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!’’
- He was accusatory, angry about David’s take over of power. Shimei’s case was based on faulty or only partially known knowledge. Cowards rarely have the need for a full knowledge of any situation and Shimei is no exception.
His lack of knowledge was likely purposeful, as it’s easier to believe a lie, than to accept the truth. And when you believe the lie, it’s easier to justify hatred and ill-will.
- The only thing that Shimei got right, at least partially, was that the Lord had brought this upon David, not for his sin against Saul, but for his sin with Bath-Sheba.
- David had been a man of war, but was not bloodthirsty. And while he had been appointed King, it was Saul who organized his own demise.
- This type of half knowledgeable, ignorant attack is the harderst of the three to take.
- The men around David can barely stand it, asking David to grant them permission to remove the head from Shimei’s shoulders.
- David proves here that he is not bloodthirsty, not by argument, but simply by not removing his head! How often we give the enemy what they want by doing exactly the things that are expected from us! David did not lower himself to that level.
˚ “David could take this fellow’s head off and that in a moment, and yet he said, “Let him alone. Let him curse.” And this makes a splendid example. If you can revenge yourself, DON’T. If you could do it as easily as open your hand, keep it shut. If one bitter word could end the argument, ask for grace to spare that bitter word.”
Charles Spurgeon
- David turned to his guys and rebuked them, giving the reason that the Lord had order him to curse David. David fully understands that God is allowing this test of his resolve.- “The Lord has ordered him” to do this. David felt that Shimei was appointed to this task by the Lord. What is a deposed King to do at a moment like this? David gives himself and the hurt that he is enduring at the hands of Shimei into the hands of the Lord.
- Notice this phrase. It may be that the Lord will repay me with good.
- David kept this in perspective. This man may be here now, torturing my soul. But God may turn this around for me, for my good!
Conclusion
- We will encounter people or groups like this, especially in the age of nameless and faceless blogging! There will be some like Ahithophel, close confidants who will betray.
- There will be Zibas, who lie straight to our face for unknown reasons.
- Then there are the ignorant ramblers like Shimei, who will hurl stones and insults from a safe distance! It’s best here to let the Lord have the final say.
• Matthew 5:11 : “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
1 comment:
1 David had to deal with his chief counselor Ahithophel’s betrayal. What does it mean to betray someone? Have you ever dealt with betrayal in your relationships? Understanding that Ahithophel’s betrayal of David provides a picture of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, describe how Jesus handled his betrayer. What actions or attitudes can we emulate and adopt in our relationships when this occurs?
2 David was lied to by Ziba, and then made a rash decision based on that information. Speak about your criteria for judging a matter. How can one avoid being careless in their decision making processes? How would I Corinthians 13:4-7 apply in this situation?
3 David was cursed at by the ignorant rants of Shimei. Often times, we bear the brunt of other people’s offensive, half-knowledge of a given situation. What principles or scriptures keep you from reacting in sinful anger toward such people? Can you give an example of how one might conduct themselves in similar situations?
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