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When King David returned after a season of rebellion and division, people responded with gratitude, repentance, devotion, contentment—and even selfish ambition. Today we explore 2 Samuel 19 and discover how the return of the King reveals the true condition of every heart, including our own.

David’s cry is one of the saddest statements in the Bible, because it reveals a father’s love that could not save. David wanted to die for Absalom, but he couldn’t. A thousand years later another Son of David would come. He would look upon rebels, traitors, and sinners—not merely one rebellious son, but all of us—and He would do what David could only wish to do.

Joab’s challenge to address the troops turns out to be a wise decision that David listens to. Even kings need advisors.

Proverbs 12:15 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

• Do you have others you invite to tell you the truth or do you rely on your own insight?

RESPONDING to the RETURN of the KING - GRATITUDE for David’s protection

The elders of Judah were David’s people - his tribe. Shouldn't they be the first to restore David as King?

Amasa is the man that Absalom chose to lead all his troops against David’s troops and now David drops Joab’s rank and gives Amasa his position as commander of David’s army! 

• There is no Biblical reference pointing Joab to David as Absalom’s killer. 
• David’s willingness to make this leadership change and place Amasa over Joab seems to be a diplomatic decision, but also removes the rogue Joab from the highest military position. The people of Judah who had opposed David know that he is willing to bring genuine reconciliation - since their general, would now be David’s right hand man.

This verse tells us where the story is headed—Gilgal. The narrator pauses to tell us about all the people who met David before crossing the Jordan River. Verse 40 resumes the journey and shows David arriving at Gilgal, with his escort who has already crossed over to get him.

Gilgal is the place where Samuel had confronted Saul’s disobedience and announced Yahweh had found a new king who would obey HIM - that is David (1 Samuel 13:8–15). It is here that Saul, the king from the tribe of Benjamin was rejected, while the future king from Judah - David - was looming on the horizon.

• RESPONDING to the RETURN of the KING - LOYALTY & PROXIMITY

Shimei is the man who was throwing rocks and cursing David when he was fleeing from Jerusalem to Bahurim

Ziba - RESPONDING to the RETURN of the KING - SERVICE

And now, this man - probably concerned for his life now that David is going to be king again, joins a thousand men from Benjamin (Saul’s tribe), to celebrate David’s victory & restoration as King.

Abishai is the same guy who wanted to kill Shimei when he was chucking rocks at David and his men (2 Sam 16:9).

David had to calm him down, and now David has to do the same thing again. David is thankful to be restored, thankful to once again be king over Israel. This isn’t the day for retaliation, but celebration!

David shows much grace, making it clear that he will forgive instead of get pay back.1,000 years later “the Son of David” - the Lord Jesus commands his followers…

This does NOT mean you trust that person immediately. Forgiveness and trust are 2 different things. David later warns Solomon to keep his eyes on Shimei because he isn’t trustworthy (1 Kings 2:8-9). David will not kill Sheimi despite his rock throwing and cursing David. Instead, he assures Shemei that he will not be punished for this.

Mephibosheth’s mourning look seems to be evidence that he was telling the truth. Remember, David had been told that Mephibosheth had betrayed him, even though David had invested in Mephibosheth essentially adopting him as a son.

Mephibosheth calls on David to balance the claims and consider Mephibosheth’s character and their past relationship - the one you brought to eat at your table - essentially an adopted son. This is wise. 

• When you hear something difficult about someone you know well, give them the benefit of the doubt before you get angry or push away. Ask them to address the concerns you have, but show them graciousness & remember their faithfulness in the previous relationship.

Ultimately, Mephibosheth will trust David’s judgment and he will quit asking for special treatment.

David doesn’t seem to have insight into who is telling the truth - so he divides everything in half.

After David’s death, his son, King Solomon, will be asked to judge between 2 prostitutes who had babies about the same time. When one rolls over on her baby at night and kills him, she swaps her dead baby out for the other lady’s baby. 

• Solomon decides to cut that baby in half and let them share it. One woman agrees, while the real mother is willing to give her child up rather than have him killed. And that clarified who the mother really was - the one who cared more about her child. (1 Kings 3:16–28)

Mephibosheth - RESPONDING to the RETURN of the KING - DEVOTION

This shows where Mephibosheth’s focus is - the FACE of the king rather than the HAND of the king; the PERSON over his Possessions.

• Do you seek the FACE of the KING rather than the HAND of the King?
• Some people want what the King can GIVE. Others want…the KING HIMSELF!

2 Samuel 19:31–39 (CSB) 

Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king to the Jordan River to see him off at the Jordan. Barzillai was a very old man—eighty years old—and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim. The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I’ll provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.” Barzillai replied to the king, “How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I’m now eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward? Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you.” The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me I will do for you.” So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.

Barzillai - RESPONDING to the RETURN of the KING - CONTENTMENT

2 Samuel 19:41–43

Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David’s men?” All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king’s or been honored at all?” The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to speak of restoring our king?”

But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

Those who once were willing to run David off are now fighting over him & who deserves to be closer to him. This leads to more infighting in the next chapter. Sadly, the return and restoration of the king is diluted rather than fully celebrated.

Such is the reality among sinful people who are jockeying for position.

• Israel vs Judah - RESPONDING to the RETURN of the KING - SEEKING THE SPOTLIGHT
• There IS a place where full celebration over restoration is not diluted at all!

Remember when Jesus tells the stories about why he made time to sit and talk with sinners even when the religious leaders looked down on him for doing it? Jesus tells 3 stories in Luke 15. Here’s one.

LUKE 15:8

Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

The One who STARTS this celebration of restoration, is the One who went searching for the coin! Jesus tells this story to point to why HE is hanging out with sinners, because HE is the One sweeping the floor, finding the coin, and starting the celebration over restoration! YOU are that COIN!!!! For those who repent of sin and turn to Jesus, there is a celebration of restoration - OVER YOU!!!

One day the King IS going to RETURN! On that day we won’t be divided or jockeying for position. Instead, we will bask in His grace & realize that…we will be with HIM….FOREVER!!!!

• Are you prepared for THAT DAY? How will you respond to the return of the King?
• with gratitude, loyalty, service, repentance, devotion, contentment, or
• seeking the spotlight, living for yourself?