Ziba and Mephibosheth: a study in wisdom versus folly - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 16:1-4,

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

This exchange took place when King David fled Jerusalem as his son Absalom attempted his overthrow. Mephibosheth was David's friend, Johnathan's still living son. Ziba was a servant in Mephibosheth's grandfather's (King Saul - now dead) household. David had expressed extraordinary kindness to Mephibosheth because of his father, Johnathan. At an earlier time, after locating Mephibosheth, David said to him, "I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." 2 Samuel 9:7. He then told Ziba, "I have given your master's grandson [Mephibosheth] everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." 2 Samuel 9:9-10. Now, as David fled Jerusalem, in spite of his kindness, Mephibosheth abandoned David to seek the kingdom, as Saul's grandson, for himself.

David was God's chosen king for Israel and Ziba knew it. In wisdom, he aligned himself with David, for better or for worse. Mephibosheth abandoned God's choice to pursue something of a very temporal nature for himself - a very shortsighted pursuit. I recall Paul's caution of those who do such things, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism." Romans 2:7-11.

I can't think of a greater example of this than in the lives of old King Saul's grandson and the servant who tended his household. "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." Proverbs 14:8.

How important that we keep our eyes focused on the things of God and turn from those things that may distract us, that may turn us away from what the Lord desires.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com