Sarah
After Absalom was killed, the people who had followed him in the rebellion scattered and went home.
The Israelites started talking among themselves:
“Okay, what are we gonna do now? King David used to lead us into battle and save us from our enemies. Now Absalom is dead. We should probably bring King David back, right?”
So the tribes of Israel began discussing it:
“Wasn’t David our king before? Shouldn’t we bring him back?”
The more they talked, the more they realized:
“Absalom is gone. What are we waiting for?”
When David heard about this, he sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests:
“Go talk to the elders of Judah and tell them:
‘Why are you the last ones to bring me back? The people of Israel are already talking about bringing me back. You are my relatives—my own flesh and blood. Why haven’t you said anything?
And talk to Amasa too. We are relatives. From now on, I want him to be the commander of the army instead of Joab. May God punish me severely if I don’t keep my word.’”
When the people of Judah heard this, they started thinking:
“You know what? The king has a point.”
Little by little, their hearts turned back toward David.
They sent word to him:
“King, come back! Don’t stay out there anymore. Come back home!”
So David started making his way back.
When he reached the Jordan River, the people of Judah came early to meet him and help him cross the river.
Then Shimei, the Benjaminite who had cursed David before, showed up too.
This time, he was a whole lot more humble.
He brought a thousand men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, the servant of Saul’s family, also came with his fifteen sons and twenty servants.
As soon as Shimei saw David, he fell down before him and said:
“My lord and my king! Please forgive me. When you left Jerusalem, I did something terribly wrong. Please don’t hold it against me.
I know I sinned, so today I’m the first one to come out and welcome you back.”
But Abishai immediately spoke up:
“King David, didn’t this man curse you before? He cursed the Lord’s anointed! Shouldn’t we put him to death?”
But David waved his hand:
“Come on, enough with the killing!
Today is a new day. Today I’m king again, and today we’re not going to kill people.
Maybe he cursed me for a reason. Maybe the Lord has allowed this suffering in my life, and maybe He will show me mercy.”
Then David said to Shimei:
“Fine. You will not die.”
And David promised him that he would not kill him.
Then Mephibosheth came to meet David.
He was Saul’s grandson and Jonathan’s son.
David asked him:
“Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me when I left?”
Mephibosheth quickly explained:
“My lord and my king, it wasn’t because I didn’t want to go with you.
My servant Ziba tricked me.
I was planning to ride my donkey and go with you, but he went behind my back and told you lies about me.
But honestly, I know I’m nothing compared with you.
My whole family—Saul’s family—was basically as good as dead in your eyes, but you still welcomed me to eat at your royal table.
So I really have nothing to complain about. You decide what should happen.”
David said:
“Alright. You and Ziba can divide the land between you.”
But Mephibosheth replied:
“My lord and king, as long as you have safely returned home, let Ziba have all of it. I don’t need anything.”
Then another man came.
His name was Barzillai, a very old man from Gilead.
During David’s time of trouble, Barzillai had helped him a lot.
Now that David was returning, Barzillai personally came to help the king cross the Jordan River.
David said to him:
“Come with me to Jerusalem! Stay with me, and I’ll take care of you.”
But Barzillai shook his head:
“Oh, my king, you don’t need to do that!
I’m eighty years old. How much longer am I going to live?
I can barely tell what tastes good anymore. I can’t even tell whether someone singing is a man or a woman!
If I go with you to Jerusalem, I’ll just become a burden.
Please let me go home. I want to spend my remaining days there and eventually be buried beside my parents.”
Then Barzillai said:
“But take my servant Kimham with you.
Take care of him however you think is best.”
David nodded:
“Alright.
Kimham will come with me.
I’ll take care of him just as you want.”
So David and everyone who followed him crossed the Jordan River.
At last, David returned to Jerusalem.
But things didn’t stay peaceful for very long.
The Israelites and the people of Judah started arguing again.
The Israelites said:
“What’s going on here? King David is the king of all Israel! Why are you people of Judah trying to keep him all to yourselves?”
The people of Judah answered:
“What are you talking about?
The king is our relative. We are his own flesh and blood!”
The Israelites replied:
“So what? Does that mean we aren’t important to him?
Weren’t we the first ones to suggest bringing the king back?”
One side said this.
The other side said that.
Neither side wanted to back down.
And in the end—
the people of Judah spoke more forcefully than the people of Israel.
1. When someone has hurt us, is forgiveness always easy? Why?
2. Where do you need to show more mercy, humility, or patience in your life?