Sermon Central
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Sheba's Rebellion Against King David Series
Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Oct 3, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Mephibosheth comes to David having not washed his clothes, or shaved or cared for his appearance, basically to show David that he was waiting for his return.
At the end of 2nd Samuel chapter 19 we see Mephibosheth rejoining King David after he had fled Jerusalem. We also see Barzillai, a rich guy who was supporting David in Mahanaim, come to David, and David invites him to Jerusalem, but Barzillai prefers to return to his own home, because he’s in his eighties. So he leaves one of his servants with David.
Mephibosheth comes to David having not washed his clothes, or shaved or cared for his appearance, basically to show David that he was waiting for his return.
Mephibosheth was disabled in both his feet. He can’t run away with David, so he shows his allegiance to David through fasting.
We too want to show our allegiance to God through Jesus Christ. We want to display our commitment. Sometimes we can’t do it as good as others, because we have physical health problems or mental health problems. But if we have those issues, we can show our commitment to God in other ways.
That’s our first point today, if you’re disabled show your commitment in unique ways. Commitment is the key word here.
It says in 2nd Samuel 19:24-25 “Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul went down to meet the king. He had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came back in peace. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
Mephibosheth explains that he wasn’t able to come and David accepts his apology. He shows grace to those who didn’t go with him when he ran from Absalom’s forces.
Second point is, like David, show grace. Mephibosheth shows his commitment. David shows the grace and mercy of Christ again here.
Then at the end of 2nd Samuel 19 we see that David is crossing the Jordan river, and he is with the tribe of Judah, they’ve all come to support him, after he asked for their support. But then we see the leaders of the other tribes of Israel confronting them. And we begin to see a growing divide between the two sides.
It says in verses 40-43, “40 The king passed on to Gilgal, and Kimham went on with him; all of the people of Judah and half of the people of Israel passed on with the king.
41 Now all of the men of Israel were coming to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household across the Jordan, and all of the men of David with him?”
42 All of the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Has he given any gift to us?”
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten shares in the king. Therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”
But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.”
The leaders of Judah are harsh with the leaders of Israel. Increasingly, we see a divide between north and south, and it’s slowly getting worse.
Third point today, avoid harsh words. Harsh words can cause big problems. But if you’re polite, even if you’re correcting someone, do so as kindly as possible. Don’t be harsh or vicious or too intense. Be soft about it. It’s still gonna hit hard, if you’re correcting someone, but soften the blow if you can.
But somehow it looks like everything is going to be ok. Despite the rebellion of Absalom, the splitting of the nation, now it looks like they might just come back together as one people.
But then we come to 2nd Samuel 20, next chapter, where a man named Sheba jumps into the situation.
It says this, 2nd Samuel 20:1-2 Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,
“We have no share in David,
no part in Jesse’s son!
Every man to his tent, Israel!”
2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.”
Apparently this troublemaker, Sheba, is very influential. As they stand there, by the Jordan river, with King David, and the tribe of Judah, and half of Israel there, this troublemaker Sheba starts rallying the people, demanding they leave David.
