Day 70: 2 Samuel 19:14–30

“Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the Angel of God, so do whatever you think best” (v. 27).

Apparently David’s victory combined with his fair treatment of the defeated alliance won over the hearts of the men of Judah. So they escorted him back across the Jordan to Jerusalem. On the trip, David had encounters that showed his intention to bring peace to the land.

Mephibosheth was one who came to meet the returning David. He had obviously been mourning the king’s situation: he “had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely” (v. 24). When David asked about Ziba’s story that Mephibosheth had allied himself with Absalom, he told him it was absolutely untrue.

David responded in a puzzling fashion. He ordered the land be split between Ziba and Mephibosheth.

One of two reasons may have been at the heart of David’s order. Either David was attempting to end the rivalry as simply as possible, or he was testing Mephibosheth’s heart. He may have been employing some of the same wisdom his son Solomon later applied between two women fighting over a child (1 Kings 3:24–26). When Solomon suggested the child be cut in half and divided between them, the true mother emerged, ready to sacrifice her own position to spare the life of her son. Likewise, Mephibosheth’s integrity emerged as he responded, in effect, “Let Ziba have everything as long as I have you back safely.”

No doubt, the encounter between David and Mephibosheth was a priceless moment—an example of authentic restoration. Ironically, the son of his own blood was never reconciled to David, but his adopted son escorted him back to his throne, inspired by love and loyalty.

I cannot help but notice an astonishing parallel. God’s own beloved nation, His chosen ones, His natural descendants, refused to be reconciled to Him through Christ; yet the adopted sons—the church—accepted Him, loved Him, remained loyal to Him, and will escort Him to His rightful throne!