October 10, 2024 - 2 Samuel 16:1-4

October 10, 2024 - 2 Samuel 16:1-4

 

16 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine.  2  And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.”  3  And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’”  4  Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”

 

Ziba proves to be a loyal servant and friend to David by bringing saddled donkeys, food and drink to him in the wilderness.  When David questions where Absalom is, Ziba replies that he remains in Jerusalem.

 

How disheartened David must have been to see this crisis unfold.  How can a crisis bring out different people’s agenda’s, greed, arrogance, anger and vengeance?  How do you respond in a crisis?  Are you reactive in a negative or positive way?  Are you calm and seek God’s guidance, or do you seek to resolve the crisis on your own in your own way?  When you do, how does that work for you?  I’d like to say my first response to a crisis is turning to God where I can seek guidance, calm, comfort and answers, but I don’t always.    Join me as I pray that as God’s children, we will turn to him first and wait upon his voice, guidance and will.