“When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ 4 So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”” 2 Samuel 16:1-4 KJV
“Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And 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 eyes.” 2 Samuel 19:24-27 KJV
Father God,
This is not so much two faced as six of one and half a dozen of the other! And David we read after he has heard both sides of the story, eaten Ziba’s provisions but then seen the length of Mephibosheth’s mustache makes a wise decision. To give Mephibosheth and Ziba half the land equally. Mephibosheth shows his true nature by being more grateful that David is safe and back as king than worrying about land.
Sometimes it is necessary to hear both sides of the story or just to recognise there is one. Someone once reminded me of a very little but often true saying. Hurt people – hurt people. We do not always know why people are so touchy of take offence at minor things. Not that it gives permission for sin and evil. But can help act rather than react in situations. Till we have heard all sides or made sure we are not responding with our own pain.
How we need You in the little hurts of life which sometimes seem bigger than they are. Like a small cut on your finger which you keep catching. Help us like David to put things right even if it is much later. David had to forgive his own people for following Absalom as he returned to be their king!
And as the King of Kings, Your Son, commanded us: we should be as sheep in the midst of wolves. As wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Tuesday 6th May 2025
I came across this song recently and could not find the lyrics on-line. Though not my usual genre of worship I found it held my attention. See what you think. I have added Be Thou y vision below as that seemed to fit too . . .
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
thou my best thought, in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word;
I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
Be thou my battle shield sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower;
raise thou me Heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou, and thou only, be first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of Heaven, after victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun,
heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O ruler of all.
Lyrics: Possibly based on a Middle Irish poem most attributed to Dallán Forgaill, an early Christian Irish poet born in 530AD.