2 Sam. 19:40 - 20:4 & 13 - 22 HOW WILL YOU MEET THE KING? Intro: This chapter finds David returning to Jerusalem after a forced exile caused by Absalom his son. I. Some Were Worried? 1. Consider - Ziba - When David left Jerusalem, Ziba came to the king and brought him food and other necessities, 2 Sam. 16:1-4. In the process of giving food to the king, Ziba took the time to slander the name of Mephibosheth, and by doing so he obtained all the property that belonged to Mephibosheth under false pretenses. 2. Consider - Shimei - When David was on his way into exile, a man named Shimei came out and ran along the hillside cursing David and throwing rocks at him. 2 Sam. 16:5-13. By cursing David, Shimei was guilty of blasphemy against the Lord's anointed and death. II. Some Were Waiting? Consider - Mephibosheth. When Mephibosheth comes out to meet the king, he hadn't washed or shaved since the day David left Jerusalem. He was in mourning over the king's absence and waiting for his return. Mephibosheth's story is told in 2 Sam. 9:1-13. He was a descendent of Saul and as such was the enemy of David. David had every right to kill Mephibosheth, but instead, David spared this cripple and took him into his own family as one of his own sons. Mephibosheth's love was based on what the king had done, He longed for his return.
III. Some Were Working? Consider - Barzillai meets the return of the king with great joy and happiness. He is 80 years old, he still comes down to welcome the king home. When David was away in exile that Barzillai was faithful in his service to the king and was instrumental in seeing that the king's needs were met, 2 Sam. 17:27-29. IV. Some Were Without? Consider - Sheba. 20:1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
He is described in v 1 as a "man of Belial." refers to a person who is a rebel or wicked. This man Sheba had one thing on his mind and that was overthrowing the king. In response, David's generals went after Sheba and he was finally killed, 2 Sam. 20:22. V. Some Were Wise? Why So Wise? Consider - The Woman Of Abel 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. Because Of Her :- (A) Discernment - 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city She was a wise woman, in a city renowned for its wisdom
(a) When She Cried - 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. (b) Why She Cried - 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
(c) What She Cried - 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: 1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
(B) Defence - 17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. (a) She Requested An Audience - 16,17
(b) She Referred To An Allegory - 18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
(c) She Rejected The Allegation - 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
(d) She Reasoned Of The Assault - 21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.
(e) She Revealed The Answer - 21 And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. (C) Dedication - 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? 1. Her Cost Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. she didn’t take the easy road but she identified herself with this city, with its people – 2. Her Commitment - she cares for a people who are God’s inheritance - why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? 3. Her Conduct. 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.- she was faithful because she saw her duty and did it, 4. Her Courage - 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.- she did it in the face of danger, 5. Her Confidence - trusting in her Lord (D) Declaration - 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: She Declared David as King By :- (a) Her Life -She Serves without Hesitation, Deviation, or Protestation when she hears of the right and wrong of the matter, of Sheba’s guilt, there is no debate, no tarrying (b) Her Lips - 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (c) Her Love - 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: (d) Her Loyalty - 21 And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.
