II Samuel Chapter 16 "Refreshments
Brought [1-2]." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription is provided with written permission by http://www.theseason.org II Samuel 16:1 "And 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." Mephibosheth was the lame son of Jonathan, Saul's son, and Ziba was the servant that David assigned to take care of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was about thirty one years old at this time, and he sent all this food and the asses for David's servants to ride out on, and most people would take this as being good news to David. Remember that Satan will use all manner of goods at critical times to make it seem like he is bringing good news. Yet all the time things can be a deception. When things seem to be to good, that is the time to think for yourself. Learn to think for yourself, and don't be to quick in your actions. Pressures brought upon people can make them change instantly. II Samuel 16:2 "And 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." David trusted Ziba so much that he put all of Saul's land in this man's name, that trust was for him to use in the care of the lame son of Jonathan. David is asking Ziba why would you bring all this food to us? Ziba was telling David that he is only thinking of him, and his servants and their well being. II Samuel 16:3 "And 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 thy kingdom of my father.' " " II Samuel 16:4 "Then 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." " Ziba is thinking only about himself, for he went off and left Mephibosheth back in Jerusalem unattended. Ziba was violating the trust that David set up for the care of Mephibosheth, and Ziba could not see the wrong that he was doing. The trust, like the tithe are not his to give away. All of the things that were brought to David were not Ziba's to give for they belonged to Mephibosheth. Ziba wanted all the land that was in trust for Mephibosheth to be in his own name, and only the king could declare such a matter. Ziba knew that Absalom would never do this, so this is kind of a bribe. David can see right through Ziba's intent for this gift. II Samuel 16:5 "And 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." David and his group have just ascended down from the mount of olives on the other side. Remember that Jerusalem and the surrounding area was given to the tribe of Benjamin by Joahua. Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin, and Gera's family was inter-related to Saul's family. When David replaced Saul on the throne, the tribe of Judah replaced the tribe of Benjamin to be the royal family. So of course, these people still held a grudge against David. When Shimei saw David and his party coming down off the mount of olives, Shimei was cursing David for all he was worth. One little man with one big mouth. II Samuel 16:6 "And 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." Remember that David brought with him six hundred soldiers of the guard, and they were all around this little guy as he was cursing and throwing rocks. They could chop him to pieces at a wink of David's eye. This little man was either brave of insane. Many swords and spears were standing by as a little boy came against this giant king David. Does it sound like something we have seen before, when another small lad named David picked up five stones and went against a giant, when all the swords and spears of the mighty warriors stood by and watched? II Samuel 16:7 "And thus said Shimei when he cursed, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial." " "Bloody man" in the Hebrew text reads "murderer"; for Shimei was calling David a murderer and a man of the devil. What this little fellow was saying is exactly true, David was a murderer when he killed Bathsheba's husband and took her for his wife. To have bloody hands means that you are guilty of another man's blood. It takes a pretty dedicated young man to throw rocks at the king and call him a murderer when his guards are all around you. So ask yourself; Would God call this lad to curse David? Well that was exactly what he is doing to David, and God said before by the mouth the prophet that this would happen to him. Every thing that is happening to David was all programmed by God in advance to fulfill the prophesy given by Nathan. God made the promise, and God is keeping the promise. II Samuel 16:8 "The 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." " These are the exact words from from the mouth of this boy as he is casting the rocks and calling David a murderer. God is causing this boy to do this action and say these words, and David was aware just who is putting the words in his mouth. II Samuel 16:9 "Then 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." Abishai was the nephew of David, the son of Zeruiah, David's sister. Abishai was a man of war, and at the top of David's select guard. He could go over and with one swing chop the lad's head off, and David the king would not have to hear these insults and curses any more. Abishai is telling David, you don't have to put up with this. II Samuel 16:10 "And 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?' " " Remember when Jesus said to Peter, "get behind me Satan," for Jesus knew that Peter did not know that he was being used of Satan, and that the words were not his. Well this is what is happening here, David told Abishai that he just is not aware of what is happening, when he sees this lad's cursing, and desires to end this lad's life. Though Abashai truly wants to help, David was using a figure of speech here and telling Abishai, you don't know what you are saying. David knows that it was God Himself that put this desire and words into the mouth of this lad. If God told him to do so, why should I take it out on this little man. When events happen stop and think; Is God in this? If it is a matter of correction, than thank the Father for caring and the correction, and take the steps that He expects of you. However if it is completely uncalled for, then that is another matter. Christians do not have to take being trashed by worldly minds, we are not second class citizens. II Samuel 16:11 "And 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." " David is telling his people standing around watching this lad throwing stones, If my own son is trying to kill me, why wouldn't this lad try to do the same. Let this lad alone, for God is directing him to do what he is doing. This takes the breath right out of the some self-righteous preachers. Those types of thoughts come from people that are biblically illiterate and unlearned in the ways of the Almighty. David can see the words of Nathan taking place right before his eyes, and he knows that it will continue until every last event has taken place. II Samuel 16:12 "It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day." " David knew that he had the cursing coming, and God sent this lad to do the cursing for my own good. David is taking the criticism, and maybe God will lesson His anger towards me. II Samuel 16:13 "And 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." God sure gave this lad a lot of courage, for he is giving David all the cursing that a lad can give. II Samuel 16:14 "And the king, and all the People that were with him, came weary and refreshed themselves there." "Came weary", is in reference that this location that they came to, at the base of the mount was a stopping place for caravans. It was like a truck-stop today, where the truck drivers take their breaks, shower and rest. It is the old camel watering hole, to rest and water the camels. That is exactly what David and his servants did; they took on refreshments. II Samuel 16:15 "And Absalom, and all the People the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him." So Absalom the false king, along with Ahithophel, the false counselor that left David's staff of servants and went over to Absalom. Do you see the type that is being presented here? All this is happening in Jerusalem, the very location were we will see similar events take in our end time generation. There will be an arrival of another false king, which is Satan and he will come in his role as the Antichrist. When Satan arrives he will bring along his army of fallen angels and false prophets also. That time is not far away. II Samuel 16:16 "And 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." " Remember what Christ said, "If you pass an adversary, agree with him." That is exactly what Hushai is doing here, in praising Absalom. David told him to go and become a trusted man on Absalom's staff, and that was exactly what Hushai is doing. He was establishing his credentials with Absalom and the new government, at the orders of his king David. II Samuel 16:17 "And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?" " Absalom knew of Hushai's friendship between him and his father David. Absalom was wondering how that friendship could be so easily broken? Absalom asked Hushai; "Why did you not go with my father?" II Samuel 16:18 "And 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." " There is irony within this statement, for that is exactly what David told him to do. To go back and be faithful to the one that is in office [remember that David is still in the office of king]. David told him to relay the details of what is going on, through the priests. This vow that Hushai was saying to Absalom is absolutely correct as it is stated. He is choosing to serve the one that God has chosen to be king, for remember that this is exactly what God told David would happen through the prophet Nathan. Absalom is God's chosen for this short period of time for the correction for David. Hushai was respecting the wishes of David, who is the chosen, and as such, he was serving the king David, and remaining true to the kings wishes. There is great depth to this statement. Now that Absalom is king, Absalom relates himself as being the chosen of God, in his pride. Remember that Daniel was the top man in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian kingdom, and yet still remained true to God. He did not yield to serving idols, nor any man, and in the end, God protected him for his obedience. The are many other types in this relating to what shall come in the time of the end, and it is important to relate to them, for they are promises from God to his elect. II Samuel 16:19 "And 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." Hushai was instructed to be a faithful servant in Absalom's service as one of David's spies. Hushai is going to stay right in the presence of Absalom, thicker than glue. This is not a lie by Hushai, but a play on words. He simply was not stating which king he will be faithful to. This is what is called a "covert action". II Samuel 16:20 "Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give counsel among you what we shall do." " Absalom asked Ahithophel for his opinion as to the wise thing to do in this matter. Remember that Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba, and thus one of David's father-in-laws. Ahithophel was the one to determine whether Hushai stays or goes. Remember that David prayed to God that Ahithophel's counsel would become foolish, and this decision was very foolish indeed. This council of Ahithophel was the correct counsel as far as Absalom was concerned for it is God's will. II Samuel 16:21 "And 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." " Once Absalom took the king's wives to be his own, Absalom has made the statement that he is now king. This taking of the wives was no accident, for that was exactly what Nathan the prophet revealed to David that God would allow to happen. Was it just an oversight on David's part to leave these wives or concubines behind? God has his ways to make those innocent things become the factors whereby His Word becomes fulfilled. II Samuel 16:22 "So 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." Lets review those prophecies from God through Nathan the prophet. II Samuel 12:10; "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife." This then is the reason for all this happening to David, his wives and his kingdom. II Samuel 12:11 "Thus saith the Lord, `Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun." II Samuel 12:12 "And thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.' " This is the fulfillment of prophecy of God. God placed the advice in Ahithophel's mind, and the act was carried out in the light of day, right in the sight of all Israel. God said, "I will take the wives...and he shall lie with them in the sight of this sun." God is completely in control at all times, even to our generation. Every last detail that is revealed in His prophecy will come to pass exactly as it was written by His prophets. God blesses those that He uses, and he corrects those that need correction. It is important that our spiritual eyes are open to see what is correction in our lives and those things that we must stand against. That is why it becomes important to understand all the Scriptures, to see what God expects of us, when any of God's elect claim the name of Christ. This is why God will even interfere with those of His election, however for those of the "free will", this is not so. This goes into a deeper study for another time. However, it is to the benefit of the "free will" that God will not interfere in their lives, however to the elect, it becomes important that God does interfere. Peter discusses this in II Peter 3. II Samuel 16:23 "And 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." David knew that all this would take place, and when the news arrives back to him, there is no doubt as to who caused this to happen, and why. Remember that David repented for those things that he had done, yet there had to be a time of correction. When God said what would happen to him, that is exactly what come to pass. So even though Ahithophel was a great counselor to David, his words of advice given to Absalom will became foolishness. He sold out to David, and his allegiance went over to Absalom. This subject continues right into chapter 17.
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