Returning home after being away for quite some time is always exciting. When I was in Bible College for my university training, the school was eight hours away from my home. I only went home for Christmas and for the long break in June – August. I remember well the feelings of excitement as I neared home after the long drive. There’s no place quite like home!

David must have had similar feelings as he prepared to return home after running from Absalom.

Transition

This evening there is much we can learn that can help our lives as we study the events of David’s return home.

David’s Trip to Jerusalem (19:9-15, 41-43)

  1. The people invite David home (19:9-15)
    1. All Absalom’s supporters invite David back (19:9-10)
    2. David asks Judah to invite him back (19:11-15)
      1. David rashly promised to make Amasa his new captain to replace Joab. Amasa had been Absalom’s captain.
      2. This does not seem like a very wise move if Amasa had not repented of his rebellion. It appears that David was angry with Joab for killing Absalom.
        ☆ The men of Israel had deserted David and followed the vain promises of Absalom. Now that Absalom was dead, they remembered the blessing that David had been to them. Changeable people are unreliable and untrustworthy. God warns us not to meddle with changeable people. (Proverbs 24:21) My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: Instead, God wants us to be steadfast and unmovable. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. We ought not to be easily swayed by the opinions and flattery of men.
  2. The people argue over bringing David home (19:41-43)
    1. Both Israel and Judah wanted the glory of bringing David home.
    2. Judah had a stronger argument and won the debate.
      ☆ If the men of Israel truly wanted to honour David, why were they upset because Judah honoured him first? Evidently, they were not as interested in honouring David as they were in getting the glory for themselves. We must be careful to guard against pride in our own hearts. (Proverbs 11:2) When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

David’s Talk with Three Men (19:16-40)

  1. He spoke with Shimei (19:16-23)
    1. Shimei was the evil man who cursed David and threw stones at him when he fled from Absalom.
    2. He came to meet David.
    3. He bowed down and begged for mercy and forgiveness.
    4. David promised not to put him to death.
      ☆ Though Shimei was wrong for cursing David, we must give him credit for humbly seeking forgiveness. Later in his life we will find that he still had a sinful heart issue, but here he did what was right.
  2. He spoke with Mephibosheth (19:24-30)
    1. Mephibosheth is the crippled son of Jonathan whom David honoured.
    2. David asked him why he had not fled with him.
    3. Mephibosheth said that Ziba deceived him (19:26-28).
    4. David gave him back part of the land that he had taken from him and given to Ziba.
      ☆ Mephibosheth kept a good attitude even when Ziba deceived him. He was willing to give up all that belonged to him just to have his friend David home again. One of the most difficult times to keep a good attitude is when people treat us wrong. In those difficult times, we must not become bitter but rather depend upon the Lord. (Psalms 27:10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
  3. He spoke with Barzillai (19:31-40)
    1. This 80-year-old man had provided supplies for David while he was at Mahanaim.
    2. David desired to honour him.
    3. Barzillai declined but asked that instead David might honour Chimham. Chimham was probably Barzillai’s son.
    4. David honoured his request
      ☆ David’s kind actions here remind us of the importance of being thankful. When someone does a kind deed for us, we should express our thanks. Saying “Thank you” costs nothing but it means much. We are to be thankful to people and to God. (Psalm 100:1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. (2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

David’s Threat from Sheba (20:1-26)

  1. Sheba headed up another rebellion
    1. He is called a man of Belial. Belial means worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, or wicked.
    2. He was of the tribe of Benjamin (Saul’s tribe).
    3. He obviously did not like David. He was a rebel at heart and refused to submit to David as his king.
  2. David told Amasa to assemble the troops (20:4)
    1. He did not get the troops together by the appointed time.
    2. Joab was angry that Amasa got his captain job and he killed Amasa for it. Joab was a hateful man. Earlier he murdered Abner. He killed Absalom. Now he murdered Amasa.
    3. Joab took command and pursued Sheba (20:11-13).
    4. The army besieged Bethmaachah. JFB Commentary explains. “The first preparation for a siege was the construction of a causeway or embankment for wheeling the battering rams and other military machines close to the wall. These consisted sometimes simply of immense mounds of earth, at other times the heap of earth was largely mixed with branches of trees, or a rude pathway was formed of stones or brickwork. Such a construction was necessary, especially where there was a moat or trench round the city, as there appears to have been at Abel.”
    5. A wise woman counselled to kill Sheba and save the city.
      ☆ Rebellion is the refusal to submit to authority. Rebellion against God-given authority is never wise and will always lead to trouble. Absalom died a rebel. Now Sheba died a rebel. Other Bible examples include Samson (Judg 16:29-30); Korah (Num 26:9-10); and Athaliah (2Ch 23:21).
      ☆ (Proverbs 13:1) A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Conclusion

Let’s review what we have learned. 1) We must not meddle with unstable changeable people. 2) Instead, we must keep ourselves from being swayed by unstable people. 3) We must guard against pride in our hearts. 4) We must always seek forgiveness when we do wrong. 5) Even when it is hard, we should keep a good attitude when people mistreat us. 6) We must not forget that saying “Thank You” costs nothing but means much. 7) Whenever we are tempted to rebel against a God-given authority, we must remember the sad end of the rebels in the Bible.

Song:

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David’s Return Home
22 November 2015 PM – 2Sam 19:9-20:26 – Life of David – Scott Childs