2 Samuel Chapter 16

When David fled from Jerusalem, he was met by two persons, one bearing gifts and the other bearing curses.

At the lowest point in David’s life, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, showed kindness to David by providing essential foodstuff to sustain his livelihood.  When Ziba pledged his loyalty and at the same time, denounced the evil intention of his master, David fully trusted in Ziba’s words and immediately pronounced judgement with the statement “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”

While David is in no position to verify the words of Ziba, since he is fleeing for his life, the words that he spoke seemed rather hasty.  A quick glance at chapter 19 revealed that there may be more than meets the eye.  

What led David to pass judgement so quickly?  Was David swayed emotionally by the perceived acts of kindness, magnified especially by the moment of desperation?  Was it because David had a high opinion of Ziba, formed since he entrusted the estate of Saul into Ziba’s hands (2 Sam 9:9 to 10).  While we should not eye with suspicion the acts of others, we should nevertheless still need to be cautious, exercising prudence in our words and decisions.  In the case of David, he could choose not to comment about Mephibosheth and only do so later after he had the opportunity to verify facts.

In the matter with Shimei, though David was roundly cursed and humiliated, he showed submissiveness to the will of God.  David did not retaliate nor repudiate the things that were leveled at him.  Instead, he ascribed to the words of God that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deut 32:35, Heb 10:30).  This clearly reflects that David acknowledged God’s sovereignty, that he is dealt justly by God, that he is remorseful for his wrongdoing and his trust and reliance on God for what is to come. (verses 11 and 12 –  “Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look on ^[d]my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 

Let us in this aspect learn from David.

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