Untitled Sermon

Scripture Reading:

Previously:

David, Saw Bathsheba Bathing from His Rooftop, Took Her and Violated Her

After She Became Pregnant with His Baby, He had Her Husband Killed and Married Her to Cover Up the Sin

God Sent the Prophet Nathan to Convict David of His Sin

David Repented, but His Consequences Would Not be Erased

The Child Would Die, Violence Would Plague His House, and Someone from His Household Would Sleep with His Wives in Front of All Israel

The Child Died

Amnon Raped Tamar

Absalom Murdered Amnon

Absalom Fled to Live with His Maternal Grandfather, King of Geshur

Joab Tricks David into Allowing Absalom to Come Back to Jerusalem Without Punishment and Eventually Forgives Him

Absalom Started Working to Take the Throne from David

Got Horses and Chariots for Himself

Played Politics with the People, Making All Kinds of Flattering Promises

Then Started a Conspiracy by Having Spies Proclaim that He was King Throughout All the Tribes of Israel

David and Many of Those Loyal to Him Fled from Jerusalem to the Wilderness by the Mount of Olives

The Priests, Zadok and Abiathar, with Their Sons are Remaining in Jerusalem to be Spies for David

Then Hushai, David’s Friend and Advisor is Sent to be Another Spy for David by Pretending to be Another Counselor for Absalom

2 Samuel 16

On the Mount of Olives, David is Met by Ziba, the Servant of Mephibosheth

Mephibosheth is the Lame Son of Jonathan that David Vowed to Take Care of for the Rest of His Life

Ziba had Brought 2 Donkeys, 200 Loaves of Bread, 100 Grapes, 100 Summer Fruits, and a Jug of Wine

All this was for David and Those with Him while in the Wilderness

David Asks Ziba Where Mephibosheth is and Ziba Says, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

David Believes Him and Gives Everything that Belongs to Mephibosheth to Ziba

How Could Mephibosheth Turn on David, the One Who Took Him in and Cared for Him as His Own Son?

Remember this Incident, because We haven’t Heard the Last of Mephibosheth and Ziba

David Soon Came to Bahurim, a Benjamite City

A Relative of Saul Named Shimei Came Out Cursing David and Throwing Stones at Them

2 Samuel 16:7–8 NIV

As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

What He was Saying Wasn’t True

David Never Harmed Saul or Even Dishonored Him

David was Being Punished for His Sinfulness, but Not because He had Done Anything Sinful Against Saul or His Family

David’s Nephew, Abishai, Asked if He Should Kill Shimei

David Said, “My own son is trying to kill me, so the least of my worries is this Benjamite. Let him curse me because God will repay me with good.”

So Shimei Followed Them, Cursing and Throwing Rocks at Them on Their Journey

They Finally Arrived at the Jordan River, Exhausted from Their 20 Mile Journey

Now the Camera Pans Over to Absalom Entering into Jerusalem with All of His Followers and Ahithophel

Ahithophel was David’s Most Trusted Advisor Who Willingly Joined Absalom