Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 16
Helpful thoughts:
- Ziba’s “kindness” to David will later be proven false (19:24-27). He attempted to selfishly capitalize on the chaos of the situation.
- If God intended for David to receive rebuke, then he knew he needed to be willing to take it.
- Proverbs 27:6 – If our friends are speaking the truth to us in love, especially when it’s hard, may we have ears to hear.
- David’s consequence from 2 Samuel 12:11 comes true through the counsel of Bathsheba’s grandfather…
- Possession of the harem was passed down with the throne. Absalom’s action was a wicked form of declaration that he was now the king of Israel.
- Don’t let verse 23 fool you… Ahithophel’s advise was regarded as being from the Lord. But, having put his faith in this man’s counsel brought great shame and sin on Absalom.
Questions to consider:
- Why don’t we have to worry about defending ourselves? What (Who) defines us as people? What does the fear of man push us to do when others think poorly of us?
- When we rush to defend ourselves from the negative perceptions of others, what might we miss out on?
- When do we know that the counsel we receive from others (Or give to others) is godly counsel? (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3-4)