David- The Coming Terrible Battle

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 17, 18

From David's Journal

picture courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

I led those who chose to follow me safely away from the Jordan to the east as Hushai recommended. We needed to hide from Absalom's army.

My son, Abaslom who stole the hearts of many people and my throne planned to attack me and my men with the Israelite soldiers who switched to his side. All of this was crazy. The country should be at peace, not split into two groups fighting each other.

I led my loyal army to Mahanaim. It was a safe city near the River Jabok where Saul's son Ishbosheth once ruled. After his death, the city became loyal to my throne. 

My men and I set up camp there. I received a report from a messenger stating Absalom and his army crossed the river. My heart felt heavy. I didn't want this battle. But Absalom brought it to pass. 

While in the city, a kindly man named Shobi delivered food for those traveling with me. God's provision through a willing soul. He brought beds, basins, pottery and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese. He bowed to me with his gifts loaded on carts behind him. "My lord, your people are hungry, tired, and thirsty in the wilderness.. Please accept my gift."

"Thank you Shobi for helping these your people. Thank you for heeding God's call to bring this gift."

Since Absalom took over the throne, my former chief captain, Joab decided to be loyal to him. Apparently Absalom chose someone else for his captain which offended Joab. 

My former chief captain returned to my camp begging forgiveness. I of course accepted Joab and gave back his position as captain. We numbered all those who came with me and grouped them with captains over thousands and hundreds to prepare for the battle against Absalom and his followers.

The army was divided into three groups, one led by Joab, another Abishai, and the third under Ittai. I prepared to go with the army but the people begged me not to go. They said, "You can't go. If we run away, Absalom's army will not care about us, even if half of us die. But if they captured or killed you, it would be worth ten thousand of us. You, oh king, are now more help to us in the city."

I looked at their pleading eyes. "All right. I will stay." 

I stood by the gate and watched the army pass by me. Before the battle march began, I gave one last command to my captains, Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: "Be kind, for my sake with Absalom." All the army heard me say this last command to them.

On the army marched. Next time we will tell about the battle.

Here is a psalm we sing, you call it Psalm 9 NKJV

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

 When my enemies turn back,
They shall fall and perish at Your presence.
 For You have maintained my right and my cause;
You sat on the throne judging in righteousness.
 You have rebuked the nations,
You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.

 O enemy, destructions are finished forever!
And you have destroyed cities;
Even their memory has perished.
 But the Lord shall endure forever;
He has prepared His throne for judgment. 
He shall judge the world in righteousness,
And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. 

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion!
Declare His deeds among the people.
 When He avenges blood, He remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the humble.

 Have mercy on me, O Lord!
Consider my trouble from those who hate me,
You who lift me up from the gates of death,
 That I may tell of all Your praise
In the gates of the daughter of Zion.
I will rejoice in Your salvation.

 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made;
In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
 The Lord is known by the judgment He executes;
The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

Meditation. Selah

The wicked shall be turned into hell,
And all the nations that forget God.
 For the needy shall not always be forgotten;
The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.

 Arise, O Lord,
Do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
 Put them in fear, O Lord,
That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah

**************************
1. What side of the Jordan did David lead his men.
2. Why did he choose Mahanaim?
3. Who helped David's men and how did he help them?
4. What captain left David's service to help Absalom but then came back to David?
5. How did David treat the bad captain who left him.
6. Why did the people want David to stay?

Hudson Taylor-We All Need A Good First Time

By Mary Vee

From J. Hudson Taylor's Notes

Each missionary journey, all three of them so far, gave me a new experience. I can't say I felt bubbly about each one. The first three had some dangerous moments which left me thinking God's call for my missionary life might be shorter than I thought.

But, today I want to tell you about my fourth missionary journey. The one which sparked fireworks in my heart.

Dr. Parker, the missionary from Scotland who lived in the same house as me, was finally ready to step out on his first missionary journey. He had arrived several months after I did and was sent with his wife and children from the same missionary society as sent me. 

The poor man nearly tripped over his own feet preparing for our journey. He packed plenty of medical supplies, and I brought stacks of Bibles to give to those who could read. I would be the preacher, and Dr. Parker would tend to the medical needs and give out the Testaments to people we met.

I almost laughed at Dr. Parkers youthful excitement, remembering my mixed feelings on my first missionary journey. Excited, not able to speak the language well enough to share the Gospel, uncertain where to go, yet bursting with energy to fulfill this first practical adventure.

We left March 19th for Jiading. Once there we prayed for a bath of blessings and protection.

It didn't take long before a huge crowd gathered around us. Most looking at our clothes. So different from theirs. They reached their hands close to touch the fabric. Our eyes and hair were so different. Now that I could understand Mandarin I knew they asked who we were and why did we come to their city.

I answered by calling out to for their attention. The crowds silenced in seconds, curious what I would say. I began preaching to them, telling them about the God who loves and cares for them, the one who sent His only Son to die on the cross for the things we all did wrong.

As I spoke, Dr. Parker set up a medical station to help those in physical need. Unfortunately he had to close down not long after his equipment was stolen. 

I finished my message, we gave out New Testaments to all who could read, then left for the next city. Dr. Parker could have been angry about having his equipment stolen, but he chose to see the blessings of telling people about God's saving grace.  Good man.

We went on to Qingpu and allowed the crowds to gather around us again. I preached while Dr. Parker gave Testaments.  One man in particular showed his support for our message by poking a nearby idol. "See," he said. "This idol is not real. It does not feel when I poke it. These men speak of a real God."

All in all the trip went very well. But this was not the end of the blessings. When we returned to Shanghai I found a gift of $50 left for us to build a new hospital. Our first donation toward growing the ministry. How wonderful.

Dr. Parker continued to step out on his own. He chose to help John Burdon who's church had a decrease in attendance. Dr. Parker used the fifty dollars to set up a medical tent near the church. Before long, the church had increased numbers attending. 

I can't help but think our loving God gave Dr. Parker a wonderfully blessed first missionary journey to encourage him to keep on with the work he was called to do.

Thank you God. You are so kind. So all knowing. So sensitive. So gracious.

Please pray that our sending mission, China Evangelistic Society, will head my recent letter asking for finances to set up a hospital and other needed facilities for the Chinese people.

J. Hudson Taylor

Do you have any questions?


Photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

Research resources: J. Hudson Taylor, An Autobiography by J. Hudson Taylor; It is Not Death to Die, a new biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty; Hudson Taylor Founder, China Inland Mission by Vance Christie; J. Hudson Taylor, A Man in Christ, by Roger Steer, and Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor.

David-The Plot Thickens

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 17

From Hushai's Notes

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

Being a spy means keeping aware of every possible glitch in a plan. This was a tricky and complicated idea, and I won't tell you if it worked or not until the end.

If you recall, in the last post king David ordered for me to return to the castle where his son claimed to be king. My job: confuse any wise counsel given to Absalom.

Yesterday I did just that. Absalom and his men agreed with my ridiculous plan instead of siding with the wise counsel from his personal advisor. 

The next step, tell the priest who also are in the castle as spies. I went to Zadok and Abiathar, "Everything is going according to plan. Absalom's advisor actually came up with a great idea, one that would have killed our beloved king. Absalom asked for my opinion. I told him the idea would be bad and gave a different suggestion. 

"Fortunately Absalom agreed with my idea instead of his advisor's. Now, go to En Rogel and tell our spies hiding in the field to report this plan to David. Tell David, 'Do not spend the night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, or you and all the people who are with you will be swallowed up.'"

Zadok and Abiathar went outside the city as if on an errand and travelled to En Rogel to a servant's house where they found the spies, Jonathan and Ahimaaz. A young man saw them talking to Zadok and Abiathar and ran to the king to report the news.

In the meantime, Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran to a man's house in Bahurim. He had a well in the middle of his land. The spies hid inside the well. A servant woman covered the mouth of the well with ground grain.

Not long after, Absalom's soldiers arrived and asked where the spies went. The woman said, "They have gone over the water brook"

The soldiers searched for the spies, but couldn't find them. After they left, the spies crawled out of the well and ran to David's camp.

"My lord." They bowed and gasped for air. "Hurry. Cross over the water quickly. For Ahithophel gave the idea for the king to come against you."

David didn't waste any time. He ordered his followers to cross the River Jordan at once.

The next day Absalom's close advisor grew angry when his counsel was not followed. He stomped out of the castle, walked to his home, made sure his wife was cared for and hung himself.

And in the end, David and all those who followed him were safe.

Here is a Psalm we sing. You call it Psalm 6:

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
 My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?

 Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
 For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?

 I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
 My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
 The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

******************************
1.  Which man was the advisor for Abaslom: Hushai or Ahithophel?
2.  Which man was the advisor for David:      Hushai or Ahithophel?
3.  Which man gave the wise counsel:           Hushai or Ahithophel? 
4.  Which man gave the wrong counsel:        Hushai or Ahithophel?
5.  Which man was a spy:                               Hushai or Ahithophel?
6.  Which man became jealous and killed himself:  Hushai or Ahithophel?
7.  Which man saved David and those who followed him? Hushai or Ahithophel?

David's Spy Enters the Castle

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 15, 17, Psalm 7

From Hushai's Journals

Let me make this clear, beyond all doubt, I am loyal to David, the man of God. I will say this to my dying day.

David recently fled the castle after his son Absalom declared himself king. I went with David to show my loyalty, but at the first rest stop he asked me to return to the castle and say to Absalom "I will be your servant, O king as I was your father's."

He wanted me to confuse the counsel of Absalom's advisor and bring him to defeat.

I felt honored to be chosen to serve my king in such a way. I returned to the castle and met with Absalom. Immediately I bowed before him and said, "Long live the king!"

Absalom's left brow rose. "Is this your way of showing loyalty to your friend, David? Why didn't you go with him?"

I bowed again. "No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose as king, his I will be, and with him I will remain. As I served in your father's presence, so will I be in yours."

I'm not sure he believed me, yet. He turned to Ahithophel, his advisor, and said, "What do you think I should do with Hushai?"

Ahithophel lowered his brows and smiled like only a villain would. "My lord, I think you should go to all the women David left to take care of this castle and marry them, right on the rooftop, that all Israel may see. This will show the people you have, indeed, taken the throne of your father." He glared at me. I chose not to say a word at this time.

Ahithophel continued to give Absalom advise. He made his words sound like God had given him the counsel to share with Absalom. But, Absalom did not throw me in prison.

The next day Ahithophel, that rotten guy, suggested Absalom give him twelve thousand soldiers to chase David and his men and  conquer them. "David will be weary from travel, lack of sleep, and little food." He said, "I will bring back all his men, except David, of course. David will be killed and his men will be reunited with your followers. Then the country will be at peace under your rule."

Thankfully, God stirred Abaslom's heart to seek my advise. I received a message to go to the king's chambers. Absalom told me Ahithophel's plan. "What do you think, Hushhai? Should I do what he said?"

I stoke my beard. "My lord, I'm sorry to say, Ahithophel's plan is not good at this time. You know your father and his men. They are strong, mighty men and angry like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. They will not be tired. 

"You father is a man of war and will not camp with the people. Hmmm, surely by now he is hidden in some pit or some other place. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those with him are valiant men.

"No, I advise you to send word and gather all the men of Israel, from the northern corners to the southern, and go to battle against David and his men. We will fall on him as the dew leaving not one of David's men alive."

Everyone in the chamber looked at Ahithophel then at me. They nodded, and said, "Yes, Hushai's advise is much better. Let's do what he says."

I bowed in appreciate of having my advise accepted. Ahithophel's eyes flashed with anger. 

Thankfully, the Lord put in their hearts not to follow the wise advise of Ahithophel. It really was the better counsel. 

My work had only begun. Now I must let David know the plan so he can formulate an escape plan

Here is a Psalm we sang. You cal it Psalm 5:

Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
 Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

******************************* 
1. What is Hushai's job?
2. What is Ahithophel's job?
3. Who was Hushai loyal to?
4. Who was Ahithophel to?
5. What did David ask Hushai to do?
6. Was Huhai successful?

Hudson Taylor-Burning of Our Beloved City

By Mary Vee

From J. Hudson Taylor's Notes

My first two missionary journeys made me excited to go on more. I couldn't wait to travel to cities deeper in China and tell the people about God's love and hope. Nothing could make me happier than to see a Chinese soul understand His message and ask Jesus to be their Savior.

On my first journey, as you may recall, I traveled with a fellow missionary from another organization. We barely escaped death. He preached and I gave out New Testaments. You can read that story here I went on my own for my second missionary journey. It was thrilling! My first solo missionary journey.

Two missionaries from other organizations joined me for my third missionary journey, a hike to the south. I liked going by boat for the first two journeys but not every city is connected to the river. We packed our bags and walked southwest of our home in Shanghai ready to tell anyone we met about Jesus.

The people were intrigued with our words, and of course the weird clothes they thought we wore. They all wanted copies of the New Testament. At the end of the day, the three of us climbed a high hill to sing praises to God, read Scripture, and pray. We felt refreshed, ready to start the next day with new energy. 

From that hill we saw our beloved city of Shanghai. Smoke billowed high in the sky. The imperialists must have attacked the rebels in the city. Concerned for the people living there we packed our things and hurried back.

Along the road several rebels who had escaped the city ran to us. "Please save us," they cried. I looked at the other two missionaries who had lived in China longer, wondering what we could do. 

Alexander and John shook their head and sighed. "There is nothing we can do. We are foreigners and only three men. We can not interfere with the war." 

Before another minute past, imperialist soldiers grabbed the rebels and killed them, right in front of us. We ran the rest of the way back to the city to help those who survived the attack. 

Walls of buildings lay broken on the ground. Men, women, and children lay dead. My heart ached for the people. We searched the ruins for survivors, bandaged wounds, and spoke  words of comfort to their hurting hearts.

After the attack, the city found peace. Not that lives would be restored, but that a rebuilding could start. The other missionaries in the city and I joined together to help the people. 

This was the time to start a great ministry. The need could grow no greater. 

The mission that sent me still had not sent the requested funds. The Parker family and I didn't even have enough to survive. This was winter time and our rental home had absolutely no heat.

I needed to get help in another way. God please show me what to do. I need funds to do the task you have given me. I felt God's strong leading to ask others for help. 

I wrote to my mother who lived in England and poured out my heart. "Oh if there could be a rich acquaintance who could send  a thousand pounds to help us build a hospital, school, and other needed buildings. Maybe the ladies could gather together and hold a bazaar to raise the money. Please, Mother, do what you can to help the people of China."

Please pray that someone would send us funds . . .  soon.

J. Hudson Taylor

Do you have any questions?


Photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

Research resources: J. Hudson Taylor, An Autobiography by J. Hudson Taylor; It is Not Death to Die, a new biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty; Hudson Taylor Founder, China Inland Mission by Vance Christie; J. Hudson Taylor, A Man in Christ, by Roger Steer, and Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor.

David-His Men Obeyed Even Though They Didn't Want To.

by Mary Vee

II Samuel 16

From Abishai's Notes

I thought...I expected the kingdom to be settled in Jerusalem for all time once David sat on the throne. God anointed him king, and the people should have honored God's chosen one.  Recently, Absalom, David's son stole the people's heart and the throne.

I gave my allegiance to king David and will always remain loyal to him. The price we who followed him had to pay was banishment from the city where we had our homes. We brought our families, our wives and young children and left possessions we could not carry. When we slept at night, we had no idea where we would go the next day. 

But in all the uncertainty we had blessings. We had our king leading us, remaining faithful to God. We had our families, laughter, singing, and the knowledge we made the right choice, no matter how difficult.

On our journey we came to Bahurim in the country where Saul's family lived. A man named Shimei stomped out from his house cursing at David. He threw stones at our king and all the servants walking beside him.

The guards swarmed around David to protect him. Shimei yelled, "Come out! Come out! you blood thirsty man, you scoundrel. Can't you see the Lord has brought upon you this punishment for taking the thrown from the house of Saul? Now, see, the Lord has given the kingdom to your son, Absalom. Hah! Now you are caught in your own evil because you are a bloodthirsty man!"

I couldn't endure hearing another evil word from this man. He had no right to speak this way to the one God appointed as king. I leaned close to David and said, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head!"

I was ready. This man, Shimei would never say another evil word to my king again. My blood boiled and I had a burst of energy ready to take on an army.

But the king said, "No Abishai. Let him curse. The Lord has put this in his heart. Who can then say, why has David killed Shimei. No. Abishai. Leave him."

David turned to all his servants and said, "See how Absalom, my son, works to end my life? How much more should this Benjamite man? They both think they are right. Let this man alone and let him curse because the Lord has ordered him to do so. Maybe the Lord will look on my grief and hardship and repay me with good for enduring this cursing."

We didn't want to, but we obeyed David's orders. Shimei followed us along the hillside continuing to curse and throw stones. He even kicked dust on David. Imagine, having the nerve to kick dust on the king. Oh, if only I could have squashed that bug.

At long last we walked further than Shimei was willing to follow. There we took a break at a river.

Here is a Psalm we sing. You call it Psalm 4

Answer me when I pray,
    O God, my defender!
When I was in trouble, you helped me.
    Be kind to me now and hear my prayer.

 How long will you people insult me?
    How long will you love what is worthless
    and go after what is false?

 Remember that the Lord has chosen the righteous for his own,
    and he hears me when I call to him.

 Tremble with fear and stop sinning;
    think deeply about this,
    when you lie in silence on your beds.
 Offer the right sacrifices to the Lord,
    and put your trust in him.

 There are many who pray:
    “Give us more blessings, O Lord.
    Look on us with kindness!”
 But the joy that you have given me
    is more than they will ever have
    with all their grain and wine.

 When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace;
    you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.

********************************************

1.  What tribe did Shimei belong to?

2.  What did he do when David and his followers walked by his land?

3.  Why did he do that?

4.  What famous Israelite belonged to the same family as Shimei?

5.  What did Shimei want?

6.  Who tried to protect king David?

7.  What did David tell him and all his followers?

8.  Did they obey him?

David-The Devoted and the Snakes

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 16

From Ziba's Notes

Everything is in a turmoil. No, I'm not exaggerating. 

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.

 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!

 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.

 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.

 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.

 I thank the Lord for his justice;
    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?