Seize the Moment – Day 800

 

Mephibosheth and the Rest of the Story!

2 Samuel 19

 

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, May 26.

 

Have you ever been in a situation where you are invited to help two people, but their perspectives are not the same? I’m often in this position, especially in marital counseling. I prayerfully listen to both people and seek a compromise that will bring them together for their good and God’s glory.

 

Absalom’s rebellion had been defeated and David was returning to his throne in Jerusalem. While David was trying to restore unity throughout the twelve tribes of Israel, he was also trying to pass right judgments upon those people who had been disloyal. One critical relationship to David was with Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. Ziba, his servant, had approached David when he was fleeing from Jerusalem to inform him of Mephibosheth’s disloyalty, but he was now getting to hear the rest of the story from the man himself in 2 Samuel 19:25-27:

 

It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” So he answered, “O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. Moreover, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight.”

 

What was David to do? David had previously judged Mephibosheth at the word of Ziba, and now, as he learned the other side of the story, Ziba was accused of opportunistically betraying his master and lying to the king. David decided in verse 29, “You and Ziba shall divide the land.” It was a compromise to bring both sides together for their good and the unity of the kingdom.

 

Seize the moment, by being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

God bless you!
 
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YOUTUBE:

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