May 16th
Today’s reading is from 2nd Samuel 16–18, In these chapters one of the most painful seasons in David’s life is detailed when Absalom, his own son, rose up against him. Yet within this heartbreaking situation, we receive a lesson that helps us to better understand how to respond in a difficult situation through restraint as we depend on God’s leading.
Within the opening verses we're presented with the fickleness of people. Some who once supported David, quickly appear to shift their loyalty to Absalom, revealing how fragile human allegiance can be.
The first example involves Mephibosheth. We’re never sure what actually went down between Mephibosheth and his servant Ziba. But we do know someone was not being truthful. When David asked about Mephibosheth’s absence among those who escaped Absalom, Ziba replied in 16:3,
“…He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’”
This statement led David to make a rash decision, giving Mephibosheth’s estate to Ziba:
“Then the king said to Ziba, ‘Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.’” (v. 4)
However, when David later returned to Jerusalem, he was presented with contradictory information—Ziba could have been lying about Mephibosheth. Rather than reacting again and making a second mistake, David simply divided the land between them (2 Samuel 19:24–30), allowing God to ultimately be their judge.
The next encounter was Shimei, a Saul loyalist who met David as he retreated, cursing and throwing stones at him. David refused to react in retaliation or by defending himself. Instead, he leaves room for God’s justice, saying in 16:10,
“If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
It appeared David recognized his difficulty was likely due to his earlier sin with Bathsheba. This was confirmed when Nathan’s prophecy from 2nd Samuel 12:11 became a reality:
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.’”
Absalom, seeking to strengthen his claim as the new king of Israel, took his father’s concubines up to the roof where David once sinned with Bathsheba and there he had his way with then. The cycle of sin had come full circle; what David did in private, Absalom did in public. This is a sobering reminder that disobedience always has its consequences—even generations later.
The story reached its tragic climax in chapter eighteen. Despite David’s plea to “deal gently” with Absalom, Joab swiftly killed him. When the news of victory reached David, what should have been a shared joy with his mighty warriors was swallowed by sadness,
“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (18:33)
Takeaway: The lesson that threads it’s way through these chapters is this: we should not be too quick to act on what seems right in our own eyes. Instead, we should wait on the Lord. We should follow David’s example—walk humbly, wait patiently, and trust that God will set all things right in the end.