II Samuel Chapter 19 "Sorrow
of David Restrained [1-8]." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription is provided with written permission by http://www.theseason.org II Samuel 19:1 "And it was told Joab, "Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom." When Joab heard that David was wept and mourned for Absalom, Joab immediately thought of what the people would say if they saw David weeping over the enemy. That was what Absalom represented to those that fought to save David's life. Now here their king was crying over the enemy, and all those faithful souls that lost their life on David's account are completely overlooked. Yet in David's mind, every moment of David's past was completely fresh in David's mind. David knew that the actions of his son were nothing more than God punishing him by allowing Absalom to go unchecked in those evil things that he was doing. Remember that Nathan told him that all these things were going to happen to him, when David passed judgment on himself, through the judgment he gave that rich man, for stealing the pet lamb of the poor man. David look at Absalom's sin, and Amnon's raping of his sister, and all the other sins within his family as his own sin that brought this all to pass. In this very emotional time, I just can't see David belittling his own servants and those that willing gave their life for him, unless he had completely lost all control of himself. Had Absalom caught David and killed him, there would not have been a Seed of David, Jesus the Christ. God would not have had the Messiah born through Absalom, and once you understand the "key of David", you would see why. II Samuel 19:2 "And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the People heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son." Rather than a day of rejoicing, it became a day of mourning all because of David's actions. II Samuel 19:3 "And the People gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle." What this is saying is that when the people saw David weeping over Absalom's death, it made all the people feel like a soldier that had run away to hide from a cowardly act done in battle. This is speaking of a desertion. Can you imagine how these people feel after they had the victory, and then when they came home they found that they had done some evil thing. Our generation should be able to relate to this, for many of the good fighting men returning from the Viet Nam war knew exactly how that feeling was. They returned from battle that broke the back of Communism, only to be spit upon by American cowards and dodge drafters at the ports of America. This was what is happening here, for there is nothing lower than to be accused as a deserter. II Samuel 19:4 "But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" " This is sad, but remember the emotions that are running through David mind here. There are many types that come through this verse, for Christ wept as he looked over those that were crucifying Him and his only concern was for the sinner, those just like Absalom that he desired to save. Yet in their ignorance they refused him, and went their own way. Christ was the Son of God, and Absalom as a type of Satan was used by Satan in his attack on the lineage of David, which the Messiah would come. To take this a little deeper of the types of what is happening here; it looks right into the Millennium age when Christ will be here on earth. The hearts of those that worshipped Satan in his role as Antichrist will be shaken, for they were ignorant of the fact that they were worshipping Satan. They also will desire the mountains to fall on them for the shame of allowing themselves to be taken by the wrong Christ. Consider the deep emotions and love that are within David and the people at this time. Just as all the emotions and thoughts became twisted at that time with David, so also will their emotions be twisted. The focus of reality will also be messed up as millions of people calling themselves Christians will gladly run to Satan and give their lives over to him in ignorance. II Samuel 19:5 "And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;" Joab is telling David right to his face, "you have shamed the members of your family". Joab was a nephew of David, and he is putting his own life on the line when he accused David of these things, while he was trying to bring David back to reality. Even though Joab's words were true, David had the right to order his death for insulting the king. We will see later that Joab did pay a price for telling David the truth right to his face. There comes a time when a Christian must make a stand against those things that you know to be wrong. When you make that stand, people make fun of you, and even lie about you. However to the Christ, that gossip just does not matter when something has to be said to correct a wrong. Joab set us an example of what we must do. II Samuel 19:6 "In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well." Joab was speaking to David and telling David exactly how it appears to all those that loved him and would give their lives for him. Many men had died on both sides for the sake of David being on the throne. Some to dethrone him, while many other to save his life, and all the while David carried on like a whimpering child in the corner. Joab wasn't dead, but he had lost many buddies on the battle field, and this was a serious thing to Joab a valiant warrior. II Samuel 19:7 "Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now." " There was a lot said here, for there had been a lot of evil directed against David to this point in his life. Think of the times that Saul sought to kill him, and all the other scrapes that David had against him. David was losing face here and the only thing that he could think of was himself, and satisfying his guilt trip. Though he was grieving for his son before the people, but his guilt was caused by his own sins. He brought it all about himself. Remember though that God did not pass David's sin on to Absalom, but it was Absalom's own sin that passed judgment on himself. The sins of a father are not brought on to the son, nor are the sins of the son placed on a father. Each of us stand before God accountable for our own sins that we have committed ourselves. Absalom was just no good and he deserved everything that happened to him. II Samuel 19:8 "Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the People, saying, "Behold, the king doth sit in the gate." And all the People came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent." David is now going to play the role of king. This seat at the gate of the city, and the gate is where judgment is passed out. As David was seated there at the gate, all the people from both sides came before David, the civil war is over and Absalom was dead, and David is now king over all Israel again. II Samuel 19:9 "And all the People were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom." The problems that were coming out here are with the ten tribes of Israel. Those are the tribes that sided with Absalom against David. The strife was in the statement that said that the king David saved us out of the hands of our enemies. Remember that days just prior to this, David and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were the enemy to the people of the other ten tribes. Sure David saved the people from the hand of the Philistines, and he did run for his life from Absalom, but there were ten tribes that sided with Absalom. Yet now they are trying to heal the split that divided them, and these sayings from the tribe of Judah are not helping the situation. This then was the start of a split that will grow to the point of creating two separate nation in about fifty years from this date. The split came when David's son king Solomon died, and the throne was claimed jointly by two of Solomon's sons. II Samuel 19:10 "And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?" " These were the elders of the people speaking before the people, and now they are asking the people, "Now that Absalom, the one we anointed over us is dead, why therefore is no one saying a word of bringing the king back to Jerusalem?" At this point there was no king except for David, no anointed of God except for David, and David is the only one anointed by God to rule over His people. II Samuel 19:11 "And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, `Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house." All of the leaders of all of the tribes have asked that the king return to Jerusalem, yet the leaders of Judah have said nothing of this matter to anyone. David was asking Zadok the head priest, and Abiathar also a priest, to go to the leaders of Judah and ask them why they are stalling to move of the king to Jerusalem? Just prior to this time, it was David that was hiding himself away, and now the leaders of Judah are doing the same thing that David did before Joab woke him up to the harm being done. II Samuel 19:12 "Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones of my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king." " In that all the tribes are trying to bring back David, we see a rift between the two houses taking shape. It was the house of Israel, the ten tribes that were calling for David's return, and the house of Judah, the men of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were not going along with the move to restore David as king. It is important that you note this break that is taking place, for that split will be final very shortly, within fifty years of this time, and that break will continue right through our day today. The house of Israel nations of the end times, are those that identify themselves "as sons of the living God", as Hosea stated in his prophecy, and the House of Judah will deny Christ's existence. This is where there is much confusion today, for many simply do not know the difference between the house of Israel and the house of Judah, nor do they care. They apply all the reference to both Israel and Judah as being to the same people. The book of Hosea establishes the difference, and the life of Hosea identifies which house God divorced and which house He did not. The bringing back of these two houses into one nation will not happen until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth at the seventh and last trumpet. II Samuel 19:13 "And say ye to Amasa, `Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.' " Amasa was the man that Absalom appointed to replace Joab over the army of Israel. Amasa was the captain over David's enemy's army, and now after Joab went to battle and saved the life of David, here after the battle, David is asking Amasa to stay in that position and replace Joab as the captain of his army. What a blow to Joab. Joab stuck by David through thick and thin, in battles against Saul, and when Absalom sought to kill him, Joab went to fight to save David's life. Joab beat Amasa on the battle field, and even was Amasa the Ishmaelite's commander. Yet now that David was returning to Jerusalem, he has asking this one that sought to kill him, to lead his army. Joab dressed down David when David's life was in complete shambles, and forced David to stand up like a man and act the position of a king which he was. Now this is the way that David treated him. It looks like this was a spite move. Is it fair? Of course not. However, it is important for each of us to see the state of weakness David was in his human flesh, with all the desires and emotions of sinful flesh, for he wasn't a perfect man. Friend, David wasn't perfect, and neither will you or I be as long as we are in the flesh. And that is why Jesus went to the cross, for we have forgiveness from our sins through Christ's redeeming blood at the cross. When we fall short, that is the time to repent and seek God's help. David knew how to repent when his sins were brought to his attention. It is important that we remember this. II Samuel 19:14 "And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, "Return thou, and all thy servants." " Note the separation here, for this is addressing only the men of the tribe of Judah, those that supported David when the other tribes had backed Absalom. David's pleading with them moved their heart to where they all were moved with the same emotions to have David return to the throne in Jerusalem. They all backed David's return to the last man. This was a political move, for it said that we will accept you as the king. II Samuel 19:15 "So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan." Now all Judah showed up at the river Jordan, to help David and all his servants cross the river to return to Jerusalem. II Samuel 19:16 "And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David." Remember that Shimei was the young lad that was running along aside of David and his troops cursing David every step of the way. He threw stones at David, and called every sin of David's to his attention. He called David a "man of blood", which is to say a murderer, and now he was at the river welcoming David's return. God caused him to do this thing in the first place. II Samuel 19:17 "And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king." Ziba lied to David about Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, and tried to steal the inheritance that David had restored to Mephibosheth. Ziba also with all his sons and servants were also there to wish David well. II Samuel 19:18 "And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; " II Samuel 19:19 "And said unto the king, "Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart." This young fellow was asking David to forgive him of the things that he said and did, when David was on the run, for he is telling David that he just didn't know what caused him to say and do such things. Of course it was God trying to humble David. II Samuel 19:20 "For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king." Shimei was telling David that because he was the first to be so bold against David, he wanted to be the first to come and repent and welcome David back to Jerusalem. Shimei wanted to be right with David. David knew that it was God that moved this lad to do what he did. II Samuel 19:21 "But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for his, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?" " This nephew of David stood by and witnessed the cursing, and now he is witnessing the seeking of forgiveness for that act, and Abishai told David that Shimei should be put to death for those things he said and did. However, David had the wisdom to understand the acts of God. II Samuel 19:22 "And David said, "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?" " After all that had happened, over twenty thousand men had been killed, and David wanted no more bloodshed over the things that he had caused by his own sins. David was telling Abishai that he knew that he had this right as of this day, he is king over all the people. When Shimei had done the things that he did, he was acting towards a person he did not regard his king. Now Shimei was one of David's subjects. II Samuel 19:23 "Therefore the king said unto Shimei, "Thou shalt not die." And the king sware unto him." You can't help but seeing Christ is the actions of David here. David completely forgave Shimei of all wrong doing. II Samuel 19:24 "And Mephibosheth the son of Saul come down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed unto the day he come again in peace." There is no such word as "grandson" in the Hebrew tongue here. Mephibosheth was the lame son of Jonathan, that was injured when his nanny dropped him as a child, when the news of Saul and Jonathan's death was known. The Philistines were advancing towards the home of Jonathan, and the servant grabbed the child to flee for their lives when the accident happened. Ziba is caught here in the act of a lie. Ziba told David that Mephibosheth had sold out to Absalom. Yet here Mephibosheth shows up on the river bank, completely in shambles, unkept, and barefooted. The reason Ziba told David that Mephibosheth sold out to Absalom was that he wanted part of Mephibosheth's inheritance. The condition of Mephibosheth's health was that of mourning, and he was grieving over the loss of his king. If Mephibosheth had sold out to Absalom, he would still be well kept, beard trimmed, clothes washed, and part of the Absalom's court. II Samuel 19:25 "And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, "Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?" " So when David came to Mephibosheth, he asked the lame boy directly, "Why did you not come with me, Mephibosheth?" Of course Ziba told David that he would not come, but the reason given by Ziba was that he went with Absalom. II Samuel 19:26 "And he answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, `I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king;' because thy servant is lame." Ziba told Mephibosheth that he was going to saddle an ass for me to ride, and he deceived me and went to the king himself. The asses that Ziba loaded with food were given to David as a bribe, and here we see that Ziba probably assumed that Absalom would have killed him. Ziba wanted all the land, and David gave it to him for not betraying him. That was a lie, and David has awarded him for that lie. Now standing before David were both the lame Mephibosheth, right along with Ziba, the man that stole the inheritance. It will be obvious to David that there were no hard feelings between the two. II Samuel 19:27 "And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thines eyes." We see in Mephibosheth that he had complete faith in David, and that David would do what is right in the eyes of God. Jonathan and David were such close friends, and he grew to trust David just like his father did. Mephibosheth was just glad that David was back and safe and what ever pleases you, pleases me. II Samuel 19:28 "For all of My father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?" " Mephibosheth knew that all of the living sons of Saul were as good as dead, for David could have legally ordered all the Saul's family killed, but he didn't. I'm the only one left, and you even set me to eat at your own table. Mephibosheth was grateful for whatever David did for him. Just because I allowed Ziba to deceive me, that does not give me any right to come crying to the king. Sure he was lamb, but he did not allow himself to use his physical condition to beg for favors. II Samuel 19:29 "And the king said unto him, "Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, `Thou and Ziba divide the land.' " " This verse revokes the gift that David gave to Ziba of all the land that belonged to Saul. David was giving back the land to Mephibosheth, the right to take and divide the land however he chooses. This was a very ticklish situation though, for David ordered Ziba and his sons to serve Mephibosheth as his servants, and to care for him what ever his needs were. The land is now back into the hands of Mephibosheth to do as he wishes. II Samuel 19:30 "And Mephibosheth said unto the king, "Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house." " Mephibosheth was going to let Ziba keep all the land, for he realizes that he will remain in the house of David, and be cared for there, so what good is the land to me. Remember that he had no children nor a wife. He simply did not want the trouble that owning the land would cause. Remember that Ziba had no inheritance for his many sons, and now the vast holdings of Saul are given over to Ziba, even though he did such wicked deeds against Mephibosheth. This is also a type of what shall take place in the Millennium, for in Ezekiel 44 we are told that God's elect will not be given an inheritance of land in the Millennium age. This is because God is their inheritance, and He owns it all. Ezekiel 44:28 "And it shall be unto them [God's elect] for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possess." Sure there will be land possessions in the Millennium age, but those of the elect will not have any land given to them, for the same reason that Mephibosheth was giving up his. We will be sitting at the kings table, eating the best and the first fruits of all the land. There will be no need for land, for the tithes, the offerings and all the first fruits of everything that is given over to God become the Elects. We are joint heirs with God's son in the Millennium age. Ezekiel 44:29 "They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering, and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs." Ezekiel 44:30 "And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first fruit of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house." When you are of the king's house, you walk wherever you want, and go to where every you desire to go. It doesn't matter who owns the land, the king is the law of the land. II Samuel 19:31 "And Barzillai the Galeadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan." Barzillai the Galeadite was the man that took care of David and his servants while they were on the run. When they stopped to rest, Barzillai brought food and drink out to provide for all the needs of the king and his servant staff. He was a very rich man and supported his king with all that he had. II Samuel 19:32 "Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man." During that time David lay out in hiding at this place of the two camps [the two gates], after he crossed the river. II Samuel 19:33 "And the king said unto Barzillai, "Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem." " David wanted to take Barzillai back to Jerusalem and provide for him the rest of his life. Remember that he was eighty years old by this time. David appreciated the love and support that Barzillai had given to him. II Samuel 19:34 "And Barzillai said unto the king, "How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?" II Samuel 19:35 "I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women: wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?" " This is a bad translation, for what Barzillai was saying is; "can I discern what is of pleasure, or the reverse, for I am eighty years old." He was saying that he is just to old to enjoy things. He reminded David that he can't taste the things that he eats or drinks, and I can't hear the men and women when they are singing their songs. Barzillai knew that everything he does would be a burden to David his king. II Samuel 19:36 "Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?" Old Barzillai was saying that a reward was not expected from the king, for there was pleasure in just being able to help David in a time of need. Brazillai did what he did because he loved David and he wanted to do it. II Samuel 19:37 "Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to his what shall seem good unto thee." In the earlier manuscripts, the word "servant" is not there. "Chimham" was called Barzillai's son, and this probably was his son. II Samuel 19:38 "And the king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee." " David honored the request of Barazillai, and he will fulfill every request that Barazillai desires for his son. It is recorded later that Chimham was a very good servant for David. II Samuel 19:39 "And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place." When we are reading prophecy tied in with biblical history, if you are not careful you will miss those things that are directed to us today. There is another important part of the key of David about to be revealed which does not refer to salvation, but in our usefulness to Almighty God. There is a great difference between being saved and being useful to God. Many saved people are of no use to God for they have made themselves ignorant of God's Word. They went through a process of saying a few words, and to them that is being saved. To be useful to the prophecies of God's Word, you have to study and apply those teaching to your life. God uses those individuals that prove themselves, that are not biblically illiterate. II Samuel 19:40 "Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the People of Judah conducted the king, and also half the People of Israel." All of the people of the tribe of Judah accepted David as the king, whereas only half of the ten tribes are accepting David as their king. The other half are not. This means that about half of the people have not made their mind up whether to follow him or not. Of course many of them just don't care what God wants, just as it is today. II Samuel 19:41 "And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, "Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him over Jordan?" " There is a question that has to be answered before they will accept David as king. First of all, this was a false accusation, for there were many Benjamites and others that were not of any of the tribes. David waited for them to move and come help him and they refuse to help, now after the fact, they want the right to have recognition for doing something that they did not do. As we would say in politics, these men were back home locked in committee, and to lazy to give the order to go out and get the work done. There was a great difference existing between Judah and Israel, as two houses and nations. This is as it will be for centuries to come, and it started here with David. II Samuel 19:42 "And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?" " As these elders of the ten tribes were trying to get an answer out of David, the men of Judah answered them instead. "It is because David is our next of kin that we are willing to do so much for the king." Why would you be so mad at us for only trying to help one of our brethren?" Did we charge the king for any of the cost in caring for him and his staff, or has he given us a reward for what we did, and of course the answer is no. The did what they did for David because they loved him, and he was one of them. However, the break is starting to come between the tribes. II Samuel 19:43 "And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, "We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king." And the word of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel." The men of the house of Israel is reminding the men of Judah, that they have ten parts of tribes that are under the king, and you have only two. We out number you ten to two. In a democracy Judah loses, however this is a kingdom and not a democracy. The king ruled, and the king is the final rule on the law. Of course there is a very good reason that they were not there, because they were to taken back when Absalom their choice for king was killed, and now that would require yielding to the very man they were trying to kill, David. The answer is simple, they did want to come, and thus they did not come to help the king. You do what is important to you, and those things that are not you delay, just as they did on the return of David to Jerusalem. Before it was all done, the men of Judah reacted to those things that were said by the men of Israel and it became an heated argument. The men of Judah let it be know that there was no room for any complaining on this matter. There will be another fifty years after this meeting that the final split will come between the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Then each of the two nations will have separate kings over their different houses, and God will treat each of these two nation individually and separately. Israel will be scattered by the Assyrians, while Judah will be hauled away into captivity at Jeremiah's day, and the two will never come together again until the Millennium age.
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