Overreaction Part 2
Good Morning,
If you have not read the first part of the lesson on overreacting, please do so, for it will set the stage for these thoughts better.
2 Samuel 9:3 “And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.”
David, in times of peace and victory, sought out any child left of Saul. He found Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. Bringing Mephibosheth back to Jerusalem, David treated him as a son and gave him all the lands of Saul.
vs. 9 “Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.”
Later, after David's own son betrayed him, sought to take away the kingdom, and planned to kill David (his own father), David did not act so prudently.
2 Sam 15:14 “And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.”
Zeba had apparently left Mephibosheth at home, crippled and unable to travel. While Zeba brought supplies to David (he was banished), he slandered Mephibosheth and said he desired to rule in his grandfather's stead. David gave Zeba all the wealth of Saul, and condemned Mephibosheth to poverty or even death.
2 Samuel 16:3 “And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.”
vs. 4 “Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.”
Later it appeared that Mephibosheth had been in mourning and was elated at the return of David to the throne.
2 Samuel 19:24 “And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came 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 until the day he came again in peace.”
After hearing this news, David divided the wealth of Saul between Zeba and Mephibosheth.
vs. 29 “And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.”
vs. 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.”
One man slandered another, wealth was divided, the leader made choices... it was all too much and too soon. The king nearly lost the kingdom and his life, and he did lose his son. Broken-hearted people are not going to make the best decisions. Be merciful!
Allow me to refer to the prior lesson on 2 Samuel 10:3
• 40,000 people died due to wrong advice, after the new king lost his father to death.
Consider how many people have left a church and quit serving God because they listened to the wrong people. Consider the number of people who walked out on a marriage because they listened to a co-worker or neighbor rather than getting godly advice from a spiritual leader. Wrong advice, gossip, slander, or the misrepresentation of true events have all caused countless spiritual fatalities.
Which decision was right in David's situation with Zeba and Mephibosheth may be in question, but here are a few thoughts.
• Do not make serious decisions when you are hurting.
• Use understanding and be patient with those who do make decisions in troubled times.
• A friend who makes a bad decision in a time of tragedy deserves to still be your friend.
• A friend who had made countless wise and faithful decisions in the past, may in tragic moments make a bad choice – but that does not erase all the good they had done before. Keep believing in them, keep loving them.
• If you are wounded by the hurting friend, do your best not to retaliate. In so doing, you would give the devil a double victory; one of you needs to stay sound in response.
You can probably come up with more lessons and guidelines for response to trials and suffering, but most importantly, remember that the best of God's people are flesh, and when great sorrow takes place, none of us are exempt from irrational decisions.
Pastor