II Samuel Chapter 16
Please read: II Samuel 16 –
At a time when David was discouraged, there were those who wanted to take advantage of the situation. David was escaping Jerusalem from his son Absalom who decided he would take over the throne. Absalom thought he would make a much better king than his father. There were enough people that escaped with David, that it was noticed by many. One of those that noticed was Ziba the man who David had appointed to be the servant of Mephibosheth. Ziba came with gifts for David and his people, but he also came with a lie on his lips. He told David that Mephibosheth had stayed behind thinking that David and Absalom might destroy each other and he would be able to assume his grandfather’s, Saul’s, throne. We will find out later that this was a story fabricated by Ziba only because he was greedy and Mephibosheth was not there to defend himself.
Another that took advantage of the situation was Ahithophel who had been a great spiritual advisor to David. Ahithophel now sided with Absalom hoping to find opportunity to seek revenge against David for the way David had taken his granddaughter Bathsheba.
And there was a man named Shimei who had a hatred for David because he thought the monarch should have remained in the line of Saul. He cursed David as he passed by and threw rocks at him. David, being down and out, thought it might be what he needed to hear since his own son wanted him dead. He thought maybe God was speaking to him through this man throwing curses and rocks. This was a difficult time in David’s life for sure.
Let's Reflect
1. David believed the lie that the servant Ziba spoke. He believed that Mephibosheth had stayed behind hoping to assume the kingdom for himself. David, knowing that Absalom would not allow Mephibosheth to live, told Ziba what he wanted to hear. What did David tell Ziba?
2. According to verse 8, what did the man Shimei believe to be true of David? According to him how had David assumed the throne?
3. David’s loyal men that were with him wanted to take care of this man for David, but David wanted him to be left alone because maybe God was speaking through him. David was always wanting to be sensitive to what God might be telling him. In this case this was just a man full of rage and spouting off. What had David’s men wanted to do to him?
4. Verse 14 tells us that David and his people were weary and stopped to refresh themselves. Where did they find refreshment?
5. We learned previously that one of David’s advisors was named Hushai. Hushai had started out with David and the people, but David sent him back to be a spy for him. Hushai would learn what Absalom’s plan was and relay it to the priests. And then others would carry the message to David. Absalom immediately suspected Hushai’s loyalty when he showed up in Absalom’s camp. What was Hushai shouting that was not believed by Absalom?
6. Hushai made a proclamation that he would be loyal to whomever was on the throne. This of course was not entirely true since he was sent to be a spy for David. Absalom isn’t sure what to believe so he turns to the other advisor, Ahithophel, for his advice. Ahithophel was known for giving godly advice, but not at this point. What strange thing did he tell Absalom he should do to set in motion his takeover of the throne?
7. Absalom, so hungry for the throne, he actually carried out the suggestion. This would have been considered an act of treason. Absalom committed this terrible act of sleeping with his father’s concubines, and Ahithophel thought he was getting revenge for his granddaughter Bathsheba. Why did Absalom sleep with David’s wives on the rooftop?
II Samuel 15:31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
II Samuel 12:11-13 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. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
