2 Samuel 19:16-43

2 Samuel 19:16-43

The second half of 2 Samuel is a great picture of forgiveness and love. If you recall from the very beginning of Absalom’s rebellion, there were several men that betrayed David in those first few days. As he fled from Jerusalem, some of his closest friends and servants either remained in Jerusalem, betraying David, or turned on him after he had left. One of these men was the last remaining son of Saul, Mephilbosheth. This is the same man (who was lame) that David took in after Saul’s death. David made Mephilbosheth as if he were one of his own and provided for him whatever he needed. Yet when David left Jerusalem, Mephilbosheth was one of the men who turned on him and sought the throne.


So why would David forgive these men who had betrayed him in his greatest time of need? Why would he act as if none of it had ever happened and be willing to move on and start over? To me, it is a picture of the love God has for us. While David had every right to sentence most of these men to death or at least have them sent out of the country, he chose to forgive them. In the same way, none of us are good enough to inherit eternal life with God in Heaven. We have all messed up and turned our backs on God at some point in our life. All it takes is one sin. So that one time you lied to your parents or that one bad thought you had was enough to separate you from Him forever. However, God sent His only Son into this world to die as a sacrifice for our sins, and thanks to His resurrection, His triumph over death, we can now live with Him forever. We can turn from our sin, turn to God, and inherit eternal life. Although we do not deserve it, and although God has every right to send us to Hell, this is His gift to us. It is because of His great love for us that we can live for Him and with Him.

So in a way, this picture of forgiveness given to us by David is very similar to what God does for us. But 2 Samuel does not only focus on those who had rebelled against David. It later shifts its focus to those who had been of great help during those trials. There was one 80 year old man in particular, Barzillai, who had helped take care of David while he was in hiding. He had given David anything that he needed during that time. So when David reinherited the throne, he extended an offer to Barzillai to come back to Jerusalem with him to live in his palace. Although Barzillai was honored to be considered, he politely refused, requesting that he be able to remain in his hometown. He knew that he did not have much longer to live, and he wanted to be at home when he died. So at Barzillai’s request, David took one of his servants, Chimham, and blessed him instead.

Israel was still in a time of readjustments by the end of 2 Samuel 19. There were hurt feelings between the tribes. There were still unresolved conflicts stemming from who had supported David and who had deserted him. Although life was beginning to get back to normal in the nation of Israel, there was still a lot of work to be done. David was back on the throne, but that did not mean that everyone was happy with the way things had turned out. It is sad to see how a once unified nation became a divided nation, and there was no quick or easy resolution to this conflict.

Matt