Day 67: 2 Samuel 16:5–14

The king replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? He curses me this way because the Lord told him, ‘Curse David!’ Therefore, who can say, ‘Why did you do that?’ ” (v. 10).

On the heels of Ziba’s claims about Mephibosheth, David encountered a profane, violent man by the name of Shimei, who began to curse David and throw stones at the deposed king. The stones hit him, yet I have a feeling the words hurt more than the stones. The man’s actions were wrong, but David feared his words might be right. When Abishai wanted to kill Shimei, David forbade it, saying the Lord may have told him to curse. He said, “It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today” (v. 12).

Through all his ups and downs, victories and failures, we’ve never seen David walk through this kind of humiliation.

Jesus also walked the road of humiliation as He went to the cross. People spat on Him and slapped Him in the face. Unlike David, He was completely innocent. He could have summoned the armies of heaven or ordered the earth to quake, yet He “for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

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 still merciful to meet us on the humiliating paths of our lives whether or not we chose them through rebellion.

Consider the timing of Shimei’s attack—just as David was regaining a shred of strength! 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: “My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone” (v. 11). David might have been saying: “My own beloved son has rejected me. There is nothing anyone can do to injure me any more deeply. Let him go ahead. Maybe I deserve it.”

I want to express something to you that I hope you’ll receive with your whole heart: 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. Times of humiliation and persecution do not have to be permanent injuries.

Few experiences are more exhausting than keeping your head up through the unjust attacks, but all journeys have an end. Finally, “The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself” (v. 14).

How can you refresh yourself when you’ve been down a rocky path? One way is to appreciate the support you do receive.

Read on in 2 Samuel 16–17, and you’ll see how David’s friend Hushai the Arkite risked his life by defecting to Absalom, and then gave him bad advice to offset the wise counsel of Ahithophel. Ahithophel encouraged Absalom to pursue David and kill him. Hushai convinced him to wait and consolidate his hold on the nation first. Thus Hushai saved David’s life in the early days of the rebellion.

But Hushai wasn’t the only person working in David’s interests. The priests Zadok and Abiathar risked their lives and those of their sons to send messages to David. They warned him not to stop before crossing the Jordan and not to stay with the troops lest Absalom follow Ahithophel’s advice.

Sometimes when we’re down, it’s hard to see how many people have come to our aid. We’re often so focused on our circumstances that we don’t realize how many people God has sent to encourage us. At times I’ve cried out, “God, please help me get through this difficult time!” or “Please help me meet this deadline!” I am often humbled as He opens my eyes to all He’s done and says to my heart, “I was the One who sent Mary Helen to your house with home-baked cookies. I was the One who told Nancy to send you a note of encouragement. I was the One who gave you that good laugh. I’ve been there all along.”

God was there all along for David too.

I’d like to consider one last question from these chapters in 2 Samuel. Why did Ahithophel betray David while Hushai remained faithful? Hushai risked exposure and death by entering the household of the enemy. He helped buy time for his king by “counseling” and deceiving Absalom so that David could strengthen his forces. Why did he respond so differently to a leader who appeared to be on his way out? First Chronicles 27:33 offers a beautiful explanation: “Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend.”

You and I have a “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24), for “greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). No matter what happens, no matter who rejects you or humiliates you, God will never betray you. Stay faithful, believer. You are on the winning team. The King of all kings will return and take His rightful throne.