Day 66: 2 Samuel 16:1–4

“Why, he’s staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied to the king, “for he said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore my father’s kingdom to me’ ” (v. 3).

The conflict between David and Absalom rekindled old supporters of Saul who were still nursing grudges against David. Have you ever noticed that mean-spirited people will kick a person when he’s down? David had seemed invincible; yet the moment he appeared vulnerable, opportunists began to descend on him like vultures.

As David fled, he met Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, with donkeys loaded with provisions for the fleeing troops. David certainly needed the help, but Ziba’s motives were less than pure.

David had no reason to disbelieve Ziba’s claims in verse 3 that Mephibosheth was back at the palace, smugly and ungratefully aspiring to fill David’s vacant throne. If Absalom, his own flesh and blood, could betray him, why not the adult son he adopted? David had suffered so much betrayal, he assumed no one was beyond turning on him. So the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours” (v. 3).

In fact, however, Ziba lied to David. The steward had abandoned his crippled master in Jerusalem in order to swindle him out of his property.

Can you remember ever feeling like someone had taken advantage of you at a time when you were vulnerable? Nothing makes us as vulnerable as family problems. Personal difficulties may cause us to lack discernment. David told Ziba he would give him everything Mephibosheth owned without confirming Ziba’s claims. David’s vulnerability caused him to believe the worst and respond with haste rather than prudence.

We are wise to be careful about the decisions and assumptions we make 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. I can’t think of a situation when godly advice is more valuable than in times of great vulnerability.

David could have used a little advice before he gave Mephibosheth’s belongings to Ziba. Perhaps the wisdom and insight of another would have prevented him from having such a knee-jerk reaction. Unfortunately, Ahithophel, his head counselor, was unavailable. He was busy advising Absalom! No wonder David was vulnerable!