Today's Video Devotion

Today's Church Service

Sunday 2/19/23

Teach the Children of the Lord

📺️ 2 Samuel 16 🔊

 ¹And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

 ²And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

 ³And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

 ⁴Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

 ⁵And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

 ⁶And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

 ⁷And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

 ⁸The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

 ⁹Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

 ¹⁰And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

 ¹¹And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

 ¹²It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

 ¹³And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

 ¹⁴And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

 ¹⁵And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

 ¹⁶And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

 ¹⁷And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

 ¹⁸And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

 ¹⁹And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

 ²⁰Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

 ²¹And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

 ²²So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

 ²³And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Nathan, Zabud, & Gad 

Date Penned: (930 BC)

Overview: A Record of David's Reign (c 1-24)

Theme: David's Struggles (c 11-24)

Message: Absalom Seizes the Throne (v 1-23)

2 Samuel 16 Commentary

(16:3) Ziba Attempts to Receive a Reward - Saul was Mephibosheth's grandfather. Most likely Ziba was lying, hoping to receive a reward from David. (See 19:24-30 for Mephibosheth's side of the story.) For the story of Mephibosheth, see 2 Samuel 9)

(16:4) David Believes Ziba's Lie - David believed Ziba's charge against Mephibosheth without checking into it or even being skeptical. Don't be hasty to accept someone's condemnation of another, especially when the accuser may profit from the other's downfall. David should have been skeptical of Ziba's comments until he checked them out for himself.

(16:5-14) Ignoring Your Critics - Shimei kept up a steady tirade against David. Although his curses were unjustified because David had had no part in Saul's death, David and his followers quietly tolerated the abuse. Maintaining your composure in the face of unjustified criticism can be a trying experience and an emotional drain, but if you can't stop criticism, it is best just to ignore it. Remember that God knows what you are enduring, and he will vindicate you if you are in the right.

(16:21-22) Nathan's Prediction is Fulfilled - This incident fulfilled Nathan's prediction that because of David's sin, another man would sleep with his wives (12:11-12). (See the note on 3:6-7 for the cultural significance of this act.)

(16:23) David's Prayer is Answered - Ahithophel was a respected adviser to Absalom. Most rulers had advisers to help them make decisions about governmental and political matters. They probably arranged the king's marriages as well because these were usually politically motivated unions. Absalom thought Ahithophel's advice was good and followed through with his suggestion. Later, however, God made Ahithophel's advice seem foolish, just as David had prayed (15:31).

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Today we continue in the book of 2nd Samuel with Chapter 16. In our text, we see Ziba joining David, Shimel cursing David, and Absalom seizing the throne. In applying, we see the unrestrained, undisciplined Absalom continuing to run free with no respect or acknowledgment of authority or God. This will ultimately be Absalom's destruction, to David's dismay. See, David loved Absalom but failed to teach and instill God's truths, which led to his disregard for God or any authority. Today many parents are busy and need to remember to teach and discipline them in the things of the Lord. This failure to discipline produces children like Absalom; unfortunately, their lives end up in destruction too. Do you see the path of destruction laid by failing to teach and train our children? How about you? Let us learn from our text today and the example David set for Absalom to remember to teach our children the things of the Lord.