David's treatment of Saul's crippled grandson named Mephibosheth is likely the best Old Testament picture of what Jesus does for those who call on Him for mercy. Mephibosheth had nothing to offer King David. He was poor, crippled and according to custom endanger of losing his life at the hand of David. David brought Mephibosheth into his home and treated him like a son. When Absalom turned on his father, Mephibosheth saw his chance to return David's mercy with treachery. This crippled man thought God was going to give him his grandfather's kingdom. In life there are times we show great kindness to people who end up stabbing us in the back. We must be careful not to let these occurrences keep us from loving people the way Jesus loves us. After all, how many times have we turned our back on God and He welcomes us back into the house. We should always have an open door for people to come back into our lives, so the door should be left unlocked to let those who have hurt us come back as well.

Ahithophel, Bathsheba's grandfather, was a wise man indeed. His plan to assassinate David was a potentially effective one. However, God had other plans. In order to thwart the plan, God sent a well trusted sage to contradict Ahithophel's advise. Ultimately, Absalom followed the advice of Hushai. Absalom responded, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.” In a lot of ways he was right because this was the decree of God. God's people would be ruled by David rather than taken by Absalom.

The last verse of our reading today is, "The people must be hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.” Have you ever felt this way? Marriage, children, sickness, broken relationships, financial trouble, fear, depression, and many other issues can make us feel like we can't go on another day. However, do you remember the last verse you read yesterday, "Since the Lord had decreed that Ahithophel’s good advice be undermined in order to bring about Absalom’s ruin..." God is working even when we feel like life is falling apart. God is working out our lives for His glory and our benefit. No one and nothing can stand in the way of God's will.

When we are aware of our standing before God prior to salvation, we are much more equipped to forgive others. If we have never received Jesus as Lord, God is at war with us, we are destined for hell, all of our work is meaningless, and we are blinded to lies. David knew this war with Absalom was due to his sin of allowing his daughter's rapist to walk free, his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah and for being an absentee father. David wanted his son Absalom to be treated with mercy. Mercy seems to be at the heart of most of David's dealings with Absalom.

Sometimes our personal pain can blind us from seeing the pain of other people. David did not ask the informants about the battle, the death toll, or his leaders. He could only see that his life was about to change. Granted, our pain is very real, but God uses our pain to minister to other people. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:4, "He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

Have you ever heard the saying, "Just fall on the sword." This is exactly what Shimei son of Gera had to do. He sided with Absalom in his rebellion against King David. Once again, David gave mercy. Mercy is usually given when a guilty person admits his sin instantly. I wonder if David remembered what happened when he did that very thing when confronted by the prophet Nathan in chapter 12, "David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”