Today's treasure:
2 Samuel 17:14
Read 2 Samuel 16:1-14
What did David give Ziba?
How did Abishai respond to Shimel's actions?
Have you noticed how mean spirited people will kick a person when he's down? David seemed invincible, yet the moment he appeared vulnerable opportunists descended on him like vultures. David had no reason to disbelieve Ziba. David had suffered so much betrayal that he assumed no one was beyond turning on him.
Personal difficulties may cause us to lack discernment. David told Ziba he would give him everything Mephibosheth owned without confirming Ziba's claims.
We are wise to be careful about the decisions and assumptions when we are stressed. We will tend to react rather than respond. When pain is acute, we often can't discriminate properly between good and bad decisions.
David could have used a little advice before he gave Mephibosheth's belongings to Ziba. Ahithophel was unavailable, he was busy advising Absalom. David encountered a vile man by the name of Shimei that was profane and violent. He began to curse David and throw stones at the deposed king. Through all the ups and downs and victories and failures we've never seen David walk through this kind of humiliation.
Jesus also walked the road of humiliation and like Christ we could be in the middle of God's will and find ourselves on a path of humiliation. Or like David we could suffer the further humiliation of knowing we chose our own path. God is merciful to still meet us on the humiliating paths of life whether or not we choose them through rebellion.
Just when satan suspects we are regaining a spark of hope, he hastens to greet us with discouragement and rejection. Notice David's response to Abishai's request to avenge David's persecution. (v. 11)
We can still cry out to God for help even when we think we're getting what we deserve. God comes to us even when our pain is self-inflicted. Few experiences are more exhausting than keeping your head up through the unjust attacks, but all journeys have an end.
Sometimes when we're down, it's hard to see how many people have come to our aid. We're often focused on our circumstances we don't realize how many people God sends to encourage us.
God was there all along and was there for David too. We will have missed the turning point of the conflict between David and Absalom if we miss the importance of God 'frustrating' Ahithophel's advice. Absalom's decision not to follow his counsel led to David's upper hand in the battle for the kingdom. Note several parallels between David's betrayer and Christ's betrayer many centuries later. Ahithophel and Judas had several things in common.
-Both were chosen members of a very important cabinet. A factor that separates King Davide from King of kings is that Christ knew Judas would betray Him, yet Jesus loved him and treated him like the other disciples.
-Both betrayed their masters and went with the crowd. Both defected from what they believed to be a losing team to sign up with obvious winners. Don't let the enemy make you think you are on the losing team. When the final judgment comes and the few who took the narrow road oppose the masses who followed the wide, safety will not be in numbers.
-The last parallel between Ahithophel and Judas is their tragic end.
No matter what happens, no matter who rejects you or humiliates you, HE will never betray you. We are on the winning team and the King of all kings will return and take His rightful throne.
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