[2Sam 16:1-4; 2Sam 19:24-30] David and Ziba (John Lim)

John Lim

II Samuel 16: 1-4; II Samuel 19:24-30

David and Ziba

 

II Samuel 16: 1-4 

 

1 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.

2 The king asked Ziba, "Why have you brought these?"
Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert."

3 The king then asked, "Where is your master's grandson?"
Ziba said to him, "He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.' "  4 Then the king said to Ziba, "All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." "I humbly bow," Ziba said. "May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king."

 

II Samuel 19:24-30

24 Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also went down to meet the king. 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. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"

26 He said, "My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, 'I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.' But Ziba my servant betrayed me. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever pleases you. 28 All my grandfather's descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?" 29 The king said to him, "Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the fields." 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has arrived home safely."

 

David showed loving kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake.  And Mephibosheth in response displayed heartfelt gratitude to David when he acknowledged himself as nothing more than a dead dog.  The dialogue between David and Mephibosheth is a picture of what took place between God and a sinner like us.  Our God would show His loving kindness to us for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ.  And we would respond how we are overwhelmed at such expression of God’s love for us though all we deserved is utter condemnation and justly deserved destruction.

 We would think that this story of David and Mephibosheth would end here but it doesn’t and we need to look at what happens subsequently.   

Something drastic happens in David’s life as he falls into grave sin with Batsheba, Uriah’s wife.  After the adulterous affair with Batsheba, and well orchestrated plan to bring about death of Uriah, Batsheba’s husband, David is reprimanded by Samuel and he quickly acknowledged his sin.  As a consequence for his sins, child born from Batsheba dies and later on David is forced to flee for his life as his own son, Absalom tries to wrestle the kingdom from him.  And in this power struggle between the father and the son, David finds himself now being chased and running for his life with his household.  It is at this most vulnerable moment, we come to this passage in II Samuel 16: 1-4. 

Apparently, Ziba shows up to provide provisions for David’s group as he was fleeing Jerusalem.  Look at II Samuel 16:1.

“When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.

 

This is the next time Mephibosheth’s name is mentioned after II Samuel 9.  But it is interesting that he is not in this passage.  Only his name is mentioned as Ziba, Mephibosheth’s steward seems to be the main character in this passage.  Ziba brings a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine. 

David finds himself in a desperate situation as he is running away from his own son, Absalom who is after him, presumably without much preparation and supplies.  After all, how often does a father run from his son who is trying to kill him?  This was a very bad time for David as people of his kingdom turned against him, siding with Absalom.  So in this difficult circumstance, when Ziba showed up with all these supplies, we can imagine just how David must have felt.  Look at verse 2. 

The king asked Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert."

Can you imagine the gratitude David must have felt at hearing such words from Mephibosheth’s steward, Ziba?  Ziba finds David at his most vulnerable point in recent years and offers such comfort and encouragement with presumably much needed supplies.  David asks why Ziba brought all these.  And Ziba simply answers he brought them for David’s party.  This shows why Ziba was such an efficient and capable steward for Saul’s family.  He is someone who is able to think ahead and who knows how to be of service to his master.  This is quite commendable of Ziba as he is able to size up the situation David is in and takes action to be of service to David in his time of need.  But this incident does not stop here with Ziba merely providing supplies and leaving the scene.  Look at verse 3 as David makes further inquiry.

The king then asked, "Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba said to him, "He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.' "

Though Mephibosheth’s name is not specifically mentioned, David asks Ziba where his master’s grandson is.   Ziba’s answer is quite puzzling.  He tells David that Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem.  He does not stop here but continues by conjecturing what Mephibosheth’s motives might be.  Ziba says,

“He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.”

We do not know if Mephibosheth actually thought as Ziba speculates.  Ziba is a capable steward of Saul’s family.  He has the wisdom to realize how desperately David must have needed supplies and delivers them.  However, Ziba tells David that his master, Mephibosheth is not loyal to King David.  He speculates that Mephibosheth is anticipating something good will result from David’s misfortune.  David is in precarious position as he is running away from his own son, Absalom who wants to overthrow his father to become the king of Israel.   In this pursuit of life and death, David hears this from Ziba.  Look at verse 4.   

Then the king said to Ziba, "All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." "I humbly bow," Ziba said. "May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king."

Obviously, David is under tremendous stress as he is being chased.  Upon hearing Ziba’s mention of Mephibosheth in a very negative light, David reacts accordingly.  “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”  Just like that David strips Mephibosheth everything that he had bestowed on him in his earlier encounter with Mephibosheth.  Once David uttered these words, Ziba is quick to acknowledge and says, “I humbly bow.”  David has declared clearly that Mephibosheth has been stripped of his possessions.  And Ziba customarily ends this dialogue by saying, “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

So the encounter between David, the King on the run and Ziba, the capable steward of Mephibosheth comes to an end.  David continues on with his journey and Ziba goes back to Jerusalem.  And eventually, David emerges victorious over his son and returns to Jerusalem as we see in II Samuel 19:24-30.  Look at II Samuel 19:24.

“Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also went down to meet the king. 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.”

What we heard from Ziba regarding Mephibosheth is quite different from what is in this verse.  As David is making his way back to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth goes down to greet the king somewhat disheveled.  He did not take care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes until the day David returned safely.  Here is a crippled man whose own servant misrepresented him now facing David.  David must have felt some disappointment regarding Mephibosheth as he tells him in verse 25.

When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"

Of course, David remembers what Ziba had told him earlier about what Mephibosheth thought regarding what he perceived to be the changing of fortune for the house of David and house of Saul.  So it is plausible that David is saying, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?” in an accusatory tone with some disappointment clearly felt.  David is questioning Mephibosheth’s integrity and loyalty.  It is almost as if David is reminding how magnanimous he had been with Mephibosheth and yet Mephibosheth did not show his gratitude and loyalty to David, his benefactor when things looked really bad and when David really needed some encouragement himself.  And Mephibosheth, now given the opportunity to answer, states in verses 26-27.

He said, "My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, 'I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.' But Ziba my servant betrayed me. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever pleases you.

Here is Mephibosheth’s defense of himself.  He merely states what happened.  In fact, Mephibosheth actually made a plan to join David as he was fleeing Jerusalem but his plan did not materialize as presumably, Ziba sabotaged his plan.  Contrary to what David heard from Ziba, he offers a different scenario than the one David assumed.  David assumed the worst in Mephibosheth and made a decision to take everything from him when Ziba came to see him with supplies.  Now, as Mephibosheth tells David what happened, we can only feel sadness at such unfortunate turn of events.  Mephibosheth continues in verse 28.

“All my grandfather's descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?"

Mephibosheth’s humble but brave answer to David should be closely examined.  From his statement, we can see that Mephibosheth never forgot the loving kindness shown him by David.  He clearly understood that he deserved nothing but death from David.  He also mentioned how he could make any more appeals when David had given him the privilege of eating at David’s table.  This profession from Mephibosheth defines this crippled man.  Mephibosheth was not an opportunist like the way Ziba portrayed him to be.  He was a man who deeply valued and treasured mercy shown him.  He was a man who always remembered where he came from and what he deserved.

This is a picture of a sinner who has been redeemed.  As we have been saved by the grace of God, our status has changed from being that of a dead dog to sitting at the king’s table eating with the king.  As we live in this world, we remember what we were like before we were saved and continue to foster and nurture that sense of appreciation and gratitude for what God has done on our behalf.  This is what Mephibosheth kept in his heart in midst of all that happened around him.  Look at verse 29.

The king said to him, "Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the fields."

So this is what happens now.  David has already given Ziba, all that belonged to Mephibosheth.  He cannot take back what he has already given so David tells Mephibosheth to divide the fields between him and Ziba. 

As we look at this exchange, we feel sense of humanity for both David and Mephibosheth.  We cannot fault David nor can we fault Mephibosheth.  They are mere mortals liable to make mistakes.  David may have believed what Mephibosheth told him but he is worn out.  Now look at what Mephibosheth says in verse 30.

Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has arrived home safely."

In this response from Mephibosheth, we can see that he was not a bitter man who harbored ill towards others who meant him harm.  Though Mephibosheth found out that Ziba had misrepresented him and basically testified falsely, he was not trying to find justice for himself and condemn Ziba.  It is possible that Mephibosheth could have been harsh with Ziba for his conspiracy but he doesn’t.  He has risen above retaliatory kind of response even when he was unjustly treated. 

Mephibosheth held deep gratitude in his heart and valued what was truly important to him.  Having lived as a crippled man, he experienced life’s hardness.  Having been shown undeserved mercy from David when he least expected it, he knew he was living by grace.  For Mephibosheth, material possessions didn’t seem to matter so much.  As long as he was able to state his case to David, that is all that mattered.  And what truly mattered to him was that David returned home safely.

I think this is one of the rare occasions where David was dwarfed by another man.  Mephibosheth rose above the trivialities of life.  David may have been the one who showed mercy to Mephibosheth at first but isn’t it interesting that David’s loving kindness is neither unconditional nor perfect.  This scene actually shows us the contrast between loving kindness of a man and loving kindness of God.  Loving kindness David showed Mephibosheth when he first met him is not equal to the loving kindness shown by God to us.   

Mephibosheth remained loyal to David while David was on the run.  Since he could not go with David to share in his misery, Mephibosheth did what he could in not taking care of his personal hygiene until David returned.  He showed his devotion to king David by denying himself personal grooming.

 

This is a story for us to remember as we live out our lives as Christians.  No human being can be the object of our devotion or worship.  Only God alone is worthy to receive our devotion and praise as He doesn’t change.  Though King David was a man after God’s heart, he was a mere mortal, just as vulnerable to the frailties of humanity as everyone else.   

 

So David believed Ziba’s version before he actually had a chance to find out from Mephibosheth as to what really happened.  Unfortunately, because he had already made a decision to give all that belonged to Mephibosheth to Ziba, he was only able to salvage half of what he had given to Ziba.  And this is why David tells Mephibosheth to divide the fields.  This is a poor attempt on David’s part to lessen the impact of his bad decision.

 

In this life, we will face many difficult situations where we seem to be recipients of injustice and undeserved accusations.  But like Mephibosheth, we nurture the gift of salvation in our heart s.  We remember what we deserved and remind ourselves how we have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ.  As we contemplate on this most important gift of having been reconciled to God, nothing else matters in the end.  Even when people disappoint us and we are hurt, we look to God who knows all things.  Though David was not perfect, Mephibosheth nevertheless showed his loving kindness to David in turn.

 

Mephibosheth does not get upset or voice his deep disappointment to David that he had been wronged by Ziba as well as David.  He rose above it.  Though others such as Ziba brought harm to Mephibosheth, he doesn’t try to make it right by appealing to David. 

 

In the beginning when we first meet Mephibosheth, we saw him as a mere crippled son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul.  As the story continues on, we discover that Mephibosheth is not a mere crippled man who had been shown loving kindness by King David but he is a man of deep conviction who exemplifies a mature believer.   

 

Even as a Christian, we may be wronged by others around us.  We may be falsely accused by others as we live out our Christian life.  As we saw from Mephibosheth, we will remember what is truly important as we go through life’s hardships.  Though others may harm us, no one can snatch away from us God’s gift of eternal life. 

 

Does it matter that everyone treats us well or that there should never be injustice done to us because we are Christians or believers?  When we have come to that point of believing in Jesus Christ and have the assurance that we have been saved by the grace of our God, what can truly separate us from the love of God?  Nothing!  Nothing in life can pry us away from our Heavenly Father. 

 

As long as we know that we have our Father’s loving kindness, we can be stripped off all the things that matter to those around us but we can still keep that smile on our face for we know that our Redeemer knows and we know that He has invited us to His table as his children.  And as far as we can tell, that invitation to be at His table will never be withdrawn by God and God will never change His mind and disinvite us from His table.