As I was waiting, out of the corner of my eye I noticed a little boy about six or seven years old ambling toward the bus stop. For more information on our cookie collection and use please visit our Privacy Policy. I expected him to quickly cease the opportunity he had with the king to request for one or two loyal servants who would be attending to him. Fear came over him. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. David had forgiven Mefi-boset for the alleged betrayal although it seems very odd that David would surrender him to be executed. Kindness is not an inconvenience to be avoided, but a characteristic to be embraced. As I write in the post, I think the correct literal reading is most likely that Mephibosheth is telling the truthbut if that were the main point of the narrative, then there would need to be some kind of narrative approval of Mephibosheths claim in how David responds to it. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Im going to give you an inheritance, blessings, and riches in the heavenly places. Mephibosheth put all his eggs in a basket and lost the opportunity because he didnt act fast. A kind word can restore ones dignity, setting one on an esteemed path. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Because of Ahithophel's betrayal of David, many scholars see him as a type of Judas Iscariot. Hushai has to confirm his betrayal of David. Although he is not in a real position to make a ruling (he is a displaced king on the run), he rules that all the property and wealth of Jonathan now belonged now to Ziba, not Mephibosheth. ii. Let's talk about a man who felt like one. And you have a bucket in each hand. They return to their role as servants and Mephibosheth is invited to sup at the king's table. If you would like to learn more about GCUs Christian identity and heritage or would like to read more devotionals please visit our website and check out the GCU Blog. iv. He aint never coming back! Ziba comes to David with some of Mephibosheths wealth and brought it to David on the pretext of pledging loyalty to David. i. The false Ziba, however, said that the gifts were his own, and that Mephibosheth had joined the revolt in the hope of having the throne returned to him. In Mephibosheths story, we see our own quite clearly. necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. 4:4). 9:1). From a place with no pastureland to a place of plenty. I love your apt summary of the whole story chapters 9, 16 and of 2Samuel. ", 8 Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?". Somebody! Now that somebody who reached out to him was none other than the king. He finds the House of Saul ruled by Sauls steward, Ziba. iii. And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. Did David kill Mephibosheth? What does the Bible say about killing religious extremists who are killing Christians in northern Nigeria. Then come all of Davids sins and the curse of Nathan, as discussed previously. Ezell, you can stay in that room and Ill sleep here in the van. i. 9:7,10,11,13). Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. (2 Samuel 9:11-13 - NIV). Your email address will not be published. Mephibosheth, since he was lame in both feet, couldnt do anything about it until now, when he finally convinced a servant to help him saddle up and come here. If one bitter word could end the argument, ask for grace to spare that bitter word. (Spurgeon). David, believing this falsehood, exclaimed that . NKJV - 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. From a place of barrenness to a place of honor. All that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours: David acting on the only information he had assumed that Ziba told the truth. hide Authority control National libraries Germany "At your service," he replied. For Denethor Ziba and his sons, this is a painful demotion. He felt lost, forgotten, and unimportant. He called himself a dead dog, which was to compare himself to the nastiest, foulest thing he could think of. David in one magnificent gesture of kindness reached out to him and restored him to an exalted position. Your community. Maybe Ziba is a villain, maybe Mephibosheth and Ziba are equally locked in a feud, either way it traces back to Davids dramatic restructuring of the House of Saul. This situation is like ours and Gods and shows the relationship we have with Him. He splits the estate of Saul between the two men and restores Mephibosheth as a dinner companion at his royal table. This also means that her grandfather was Ahithophel (according to 2 Samuel 23:34). In every walk of life it is important to follow that old Texas maxim: Hug your friends tight, but your enemies tighter - hug em so tight they cant wiggle. Thats what God does for us. Hearing this, David ordered that the fields of Saul be divided between Mephibosheth and Ziba ( 2 Samuel 19 :29). Now he was going to provide for his needs - food, shelter, and financial resources. b. Just read your comment and the various responses with much interest, thank you! What David did for Mephibosheth, God does for us. Ziba is an example of someone who wickedly uses a crisis for his own benefit. Makir's name, meaning "salesman," hints at his profession. Let me go over and take off his head: Abishai didnt want to listen to Shimei curse or to dodge his stones anymore. It has a little more to do with the story at this point, since it explains why Mephibosheth is not already ruling over his fathers house, but the narrator repeats it throughout the chapter. Teaching, Catholic theology, Orlando Furioso, Writing. Did Mephibosheth betray David? Passages: 2nd Samuel 16; Luke 22; Psa. David thought it was better to send Hushai back to Absalom, to both spy on Absalom and to give him bad advice. Davids promise to Johnathans son is like how Gods grace is to us. He is on the run from his son. I force my students to note and track this odd narration as a lesson in foreshadowing. David and Yeshua both respond by saying that killing or injuring those accusing them was not the way to respond. You should do the same. But Ruth replied, Dont ask me to leave you and turn back. Gilboa at the end of I Samuel, Mephibosheths nurse dropped him while fleeing. 2022 TheEnduring WordBible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. A. David was not through with Mephibosheth. They see one another multiple times in the day because David chooses to engage with him. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his fathers concubines: This disgraceful act said a lot about Absalom, who actually did it. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. . i. This lame man would have to defeat both David and Absalom to get to the throne himself. Does he realise at this point that hes had a very lucky reprieve? The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. In 2 Samuel 16, when David flees Jerusalem after Absalom's conspiracy, Ziba comes to David with provisions, and claims that Mephibosheth has broken faith with David. People were milling around waiting on the next bus to come along. He thought of himself as a pile of garbage - a man of shame. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Mentioned twice in Scripture, Makir was a man of means. He chooses to sacrifice His own life for us. After taking the throne through Gods will, he asked if there was any other relatives of Saul, the previous king who, in jealousy, had tried to murder him. Sometimes situations happen in our lives that leave us so wretched and beaten. The Puritan commentator John Trapp wrote this of Ahithophels tongue, which gave this wicked advice: O tongue worthy to have been cut out, shred in gobbets and driven down the throat of him that thus misused him, to the engaging of Absalom in such an unpardonable villainy, beside hazard of his immortal soul!. Overall, as Ive been reading this account once more and wondering why its been left for us to ponder, Im left with the conclusion that weve been treated to a timeless parable of the murky world of human motivations and manners, whether individual or national/global. Observations on the Bible, faith, theology, & the church in a post-Christian culture. Sometimes it is as simple as a pleasant smile, or a warm handshake, or sending a thank you note, or assisting a neighbor with a household project, or being with a friend in distress. Is killing in war a sin? Ziba said, "I brought them for you and your people. Remember Shimei in 2 Samuel 16:5 who was also of the family of Saul, he cursed David and threw stones at him. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Richard Ezell on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM. Bitterness has the power to turn our best qualities sour. Ziba was utterly despicable, and the more so because at the moment the sorrow he brought to the heart of David was his feeling that his kindness toward Mephibosheth was ill requited. (Morgan), iii. What David did in welcoming Mephibosheth was amazing, but what Jesus did in welcoming our broken, wandering hearts is even more unfathomable. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to flee, he fell and became lame. Jonathan is killed: 1 Samuel 31:1-2 - 1Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. He was a clever and skilled politician but ignorant about the ways of God. He gave him a new identity and a new position. Any sources cited were 8:34; 9:40) where the name is parallel to Eshbaal (see *Ish-Bosheth ). Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. His words were an act of grace - symbolic of Gods love for David. Davids anointing as King David and Goliath Davids flight from Saul but his refusal to snatch the crown Davids heart for worship, expressed in bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and his desire to build the temple Davids sin with Bathsheba and his ultimate repentance and confession Our compelling charm? 1 Samuel 20:14-17, 1 Samuel 31:1-2, 2 Samuel 16, 2 Samuel 16:1-4, 2 Samuel 19:24-30, 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9:1, 2 Samuel 9:5-13, Hebrews 11:13-16, Sermon Topics:
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. All the comments were very insightful to me. You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! This is the Old Testament equivalent to the horror movie in which, every time someone drives over the rickety country bridge, the camera zooms in and we see the bolts rattling loose. * Absalom has moved into Jerusalem and has taken possession of the throne. 1 Chron. Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. Shimei (who had no previous relationship with David) betrays David. The New Testament has plenty of instances in which Jesus interacts with those with a disability, but what about in the Old Testament? Somebody! he shouted, as his face grew whiter with fright. Ahithophel betrayed David on purpose and David asks for his counsel to become foolishness. Or does he? However, the next verse says that David took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah (Saul's concubine) and handed them over to the Gibeonites who killed them. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:24 9.6MB). Early in II Samuel, as David is wrapping up his war against the House of Saul, we are introduced to Mephibosheth. Learn how your comment data is processed.