Background: This chapter finds David returning to Jerusalem after a forced exile caused by Absalom his son. Absalom is now dead and King David is returning to retake his rightful place on the throne, Israel. David’s return finds the people of Israel in various states of mind and in various states of preparedness for his return. In this chapter, and in the first verse of chapter 20, we find preparedness for his return.
We are presented with 5 different people who met the king. Each one meets him with a different attitude and from a different point of view. Needless to say, before we are done, we will see that not everyone was happy to see the king.
This morning I want to intertwine this story with the story of another returning King. The Bible tells us that there is a king named Jesus who left this earth one day to go back to heaven from where He originated. Before He left, He gave His people some promises, that stand as glorious hope for the people of God, but that also stand as a solemn warning for those outside Jesus. Let’s notice a couple of those glorious promises:
John 14:1-3 – “(1) Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (2) In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Acts 1:9-11 – “(9) Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, (11) who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Revelation 22:20 – “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
The truth of the matter is, not everyone will meet Jesus the same way when He returns. Some will be excited and happy, others will be caught off guard, still others will be found lost, and undone and will find that an eternity in hell is all they have before them. The question I have for you this morning is this: How will you meet the King?
This morning I would like to look at the lives of 5 men who met King David when he returned from exile and I would like to show you, from the accounts of these men, how many will meet King Jesus when He returns some day.
Keep thinking of this question throughout the message: HOW WILL YOU MEET THE KING?
1. Vs. 16-23: WILL YOU BE WORRIED? When David returned, two of those who met him, were named Ziba and Shimei. Both of these men had reason to be worried when they saw the king coming. Notice what they had done:
Ziba: When David left Jerusalem, Ziba came to the king and brought him food and other necessities (2 Samuel 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. In short, Ziba lied to the king and attempted to deceive him. Therefore, Ziba was worried, and rightly so, when he saw the king coming.
Shimei: When David was about four miles outside the city of Jerusalem, on his way into exile, he passed a village named Bahurim. As he & his men passed by a man named Shimei came out and ran along the hillside cursing David and throwing rocks at him and his men (2 Samuel 16:5-13).
By cursing David, Shimei was guilty of blaspheme against the Lord’s anointed. By doing so, he was worthy of death, yet he received mercy in that David refused Abishai permission to kill Shimei. Shimei had enjoyed freedom while David was away but when he saw the king returning he certainly had reason to worry.
By their actions, these men paint a picture of many of those who name the name of Jesus. That’s right. Not everyone who says that they are saved is living for the Lord, nor will they be ready when He comes. Sadly, many are guilty of hypocrisy like Ziba because they refuse to live like the Lord wants them to.
Others are guilty of pure blaspheme in that they claim to love the Lord, but live lives that deny Him. When the Lord saves a soul, He takes possession of that life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “(19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” The saved person loses all rights & control over his/her life. As a result, we are expected by the Lord to live for Him.
Will you be worried when Jesus comes? If you have chosen to be unfaithful to the Lord, His house, His work, then you have reason to worry, because when He comes we will all stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
You may say, “Preacher, I can live as I please.” Yes! But know that there will be a price to pay. Ecclesiastes 11:9 – “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.”
WILL YOU BE WORRIED WHEN YOU MEET THE KING?
2. Vs. 24-30: WILL YOU BE WAITING? One of those men who came out to meet David was a man named Mephibosheth. This was the man who had been misrepresented by his servant Ziba. When Mephibosheth comes out to meet the king, we see that he hasn’t washed or shaved since the day David left Jerusalem.
He had apparently spent his time in mourning over the king’s absence and in waiting for his return. There is a very good reason for this. Mephibosheth’s story is told in 2 Samuel 9:1-13.
He was a descendent of Saul and Saul 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 for him. He longed for nothing more than to see the king.
When David did return, he acted a little unfairly in regard to Mephibosheth, (v. 29) but the love of Mephibosheth is seen in the fact that he cared not about his land or property, he only cared about being with the king.
Not every Christian will be worried when Jesus comes. There are some who spend their lives waiting for Jesus to return. To their hearts there will be no sweeter sound, than to hear that trumpet blast & the shout from heaven, “come up here.”
I want everyone who is looking for the Lord Jesus to know that one day your heart’s cry will be answered. Jesus will do as He said and will return in power and glory to take us home. Will you be waiting when He returns? Don’t let His coming catch you looking at the world or its treasures. Instead, let’s all strive to be found looking for Jesus when He returns.
Are you looking for Jesus to return this morning? If so, then rejoice, for He may return today. The King is coming. Keep watching & waiting, for He will return.
Hebrews 9:28 – “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
3. Vs. 31-40: WILL YOU BE WORKING? Barzillai was another who came to meet David when he returned to Jerusalem. Barzillai meets the return of the king with great joy & happiness. He is glad that the king has returned & even though he is 80 years old, he still comes down to welcome the king home.
Not much is known about this man the Bible calls “very great” (2 Samuel 19:32, KJV). It seems that when David was away in exile that Barzillai was faithful in his service to the king & was instrumental in seeing that the king’s needs were met (2 Samuel 17:27-29).
When the king returns we find that same spirit active in the life of this faithful man. Yes, Barzillai was old, yet he kept on working for the king.
Will you be found working when the King returns? In truth this morning, there are a lot of Christians who are AWOL. They refuse to serve the Lord with faithfulness. They are afflicted with what the Bible terms “divers diseases” (Matthew 4:24). Note some:
Sundayitis - this condition produces symptoms that are only seen on Sunday! It produces acute laziness in the person afflicted! It causes them to sleep in, or it can make them spend the day in the mountains or at the lake! This strange disease never seems to affect singings or eating meetings, but only those services where the Word of God is featured!
Symptoms are usually worse from 9 AM to 12 PM. During the afternoon, the sufferer feels better until 5 or 6 PM when the symptoms return. The patient is almost always better by Monday morning allowing him to return to work. Sadly he usually suffers a relapse on Wednesday that keeps him for Church.
Spiritual Paralysis – This condition doesn’t affect any other area of life, but the Lord’s work. People can hunt, fish, go on vacation etc. They even look well and can attend church with little problems. The only symptom is inactivity.
This disease usually causes the afflicted to refuse all jobs in the church. The most common phrase heard from those afflicted is, “Get someone else.”
Cirrhosis Of The Giver – This all too common affliction produces severe tenderness in the area immediately around the wallet or checkbook. It causes the sufferer to feel compelled to give as little as possible to the Lord & His Kingdom’s work. It causes the person not to be faithful in tithes.
There are several other afflictions which we can take time to talk about, like: sore eyes, black tongue, spiritual bruises, spiritual malnutrition, etc. There are some here today who could be afflicted with some of these. My question for you is this: “Will you be found working when Jesus returns?”
Barzillai was faithful to David & he kept living, giving & working until the king returned. Can the same be said of your life? It should be said of every child of God. 1 Corinthians 4:2 – “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Required – to demand, order, command.
Stand your ground for Jesus & if everyone falls around you or if everyone deserts the battlefield, you keep fighting for the glory of the Lord. Those who stand will receive the victory.
2 Samuel 23:11-12 – “(11) And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. Then the people fled from the Philistines. (12) But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.”
Luke 12:40-48 – “’(40) Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (41) Then Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?’ (42) And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? (43) "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (44) "Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. (45) "But if that servant says in his heart, ’My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, (46) "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (47) "And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (48) "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
4. 20:1: WILL YOU BE WITHOUT? There was one other fellow who met David when he came back. His name was Sheba. He is described in vs. 1 as the “son of Belial.” This phrase refers to a person who is a rebel or wicked man.
This man Sheba had one thing on his mind & that was overthrowing the king. He wanted to see David ousted from the throne. He hated David and tried to cause Israel to follow him in rebelling against King David.
In response, David’s generals went after Sheba and he was finally killed.
This man Sheba represents all of those who are the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now many may feel that they are not the enemies of Christ, but the truth of the matter is, that every person who is not in a personal relationship with Christ is the enemy of God.
When King Jesus returns, these people will find themselves shut out of the kingdom and shut out of an eternity in Heaven. Will you be without when Jesus returns? If you are not saved, you will find yourself on the outside of salvation, on the outside of heaven, on the outside of hope, and on the outside of the mercy & he grace of God.
The good news is that the return of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to catch you off guard. You can be ready for His coming. He loves you, He died for you, and He wants you. Don’t be like Sheba and find yourself lost forever. Be saved and have a blessed eternity.
Closing: How will you meet the King? If Jesus came today, and He could, would you be worried? Would you be found waiting? Would you be found working? Or would you be found without? Like it or not, Jesus is coming again. When He does come He will find you in one of these 4 situations of life. Which will it be for you? Right now is the time for coming to the Lord and making things right. Will you do that which you need to do today, so that when Jesus does come, you will be able to meet the King right?
