II Samuel 16
From Ziba's Notes
King David, his staff and loyal followers have escaped the city of Jerusalem, fearing Absalom's sword and the army he'd gathered. What caused this mess? Absalom's greed, jealousy, and anger with his father, David.
My own master, Mephibosheth, chose to stay at the castle. After all King David did for him, welcome him to his table, treated him as a son, gave him land, and food. If his father, Jonathan, could speak from the grave he'd speak a great disappointment. Despite my words, Mephibosheth said he wanted to stay just in case the thrown came back to his family. What he meant was himself. More greed and jealousy. Will it never end?
Knowing David and his followers would be hungry I went to our storehouse and gathered a gift and took it to the mountain where I knew he would lead the people and waitied. I brought a couple of saddled donkeys carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
David and his followers arrive shortly after I did. They walked as weary people even though the journey would not have been that great. How sad to be chased from your home unjustly.
David's eyes met mine and his face brightened. Having the burden to run a kingdom is a great one to bear, but having the burden to lead people from their homes into the wilderness with no promise of food or shelter is greater. Still, the man had a kindness I've not seen in others.
He had no idea I brought gifts. And though I was nothing more than a servant of a man who had betrayed David, he still greeted me with kindness.
I bowed before him. "My lord, 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."
David leaned to the side and looked beyond the donkeys. "And where is your master's son?"
"My lord, Mephibosheth stayed in Jerusalem. He said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.'"
He looked me in the eyes. The silence made me wonder what he was thinking. At last he said, "Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours, because of your loyalty to God's anointed one."
I did not expect such generosity. I bowed. "I humbly bow before you, that may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king."
I shall continue to serve King David, and will call him king until his dying day no matter who attempts to sit on the thrown. For the Lord God of Israel has appointed this man to do his work, and him only will I serve.
Here is a Psalm we sing, You call it Psalm 7:
O Lord, my God, I come to you for protection;
rescue me and save me from all who pursue me,
or else like a lion they will carry me off
where no one can save me,
and there they will tear me to pieces.
rescue me and save me from all who pursue me,
or else like a lion they will carry me off
where no one can save me,
and there they will tear me to pieces.
O Lord, my God, if I have wronged anyone,
if I have betrayed a friend
or without cause done violence to my enemy[b]—
if I have done any of these things—
then let my enemies pursue me and catch me,
let them cut me down and kill me
and leave me lifeless on the ground!
if I have betrayed a friend
or without cause done violence to my enemy[b]—
if I have done any of these things—
then let my enemies pursue me and catch me,
let them cut me down and kill me
and leave me lifeless on the ground!
Rise in your anger, O Lord!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies;
rouse yourself and help me!
Justice is what you demand,
so bring together all the peoples around you,
and rule over them from above.[c]
You are the judge of all people.
Judge in my favor, O Lord;
you know that I am innocent.
You are a righteous God
and judge our thoughts and desires.
Stop the wickedness of evildoers
and reward those who are good.
Stand up against the fury of my enemies;
rouse yourself and help me!
Justice is what you demand,
so bring together all the peoples around you,
and rule over them from above.[c]
You are the judge of all people.
Judge in my favor, O Lord;
you know that I am innocent.
You are a righteous God
and judge our thoughts and desires.
Stop the wickedness of evildoers
and reward those who are good.
God is my protector;
he saves those who obey him.
God is a righteous judge
and always condemns the wicked.
If they do not change their ways,
God will sharpen his sword.
He bends his bow and makes it ready;
he takes up his deadly weapons
and aims his burning arrows.
he saves those who obey him.
God is a righteous judge
and always condemns the wicked.
If they do not change their ways,
God will sharpen his sword.
He bends his bow and makes it ready;
he takes up his deadly weapons
and aims his burning arrows.
See how wicked people think up evil;
they plan trouble and practice deception.
But in the traps they set for others,
they themselves get caught.
So they are punished by their own evil
and are hurt by their own violence.
they plan trouble and practice deception.
But in the traps they set for others,
they themselves get caught.
So they are punished by their own evil
and are hurt by their own violence.
I thank the Lord for his justice;
I sing praises to the Lord, the Most High.
I sing praises to the Lord, the Most High.
1. Ziba was a ___________ of Mephibosheth.
2. Where did Ziba meet king David?
3. What did he bring him and why?
4. Where was Mephibosheth?
5. Who did Ziba choose to be loyal to and why?
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