2 Samuel 16 Gifts and Sorrow

As David wandered the hills looking for a safe place to reside while his errant son was living in luxury in Jerusalem. Absolam was that child and now his true self revealed itself as a murderer and a man of deceit. Amidst this comes Ziba bringing food to David. When asked why he answered with a lie that was not detectable to David. Deceit seems to run in the Davidic kingdom and as the true king, David is oblivious to what is truly happening. How often are we led astray by words of sweetness only to be revealed later as words of deceit. That is the way of our enemy Satan. 

In the midst of all this, two men lead Absalom to trick men into following him and in the end, but it took Joab to bring him to his end. Hearing this news, David mourns openly and loudly as any parent does when their child has gone astray and is killed. 

How do we handle deceit, lies and wickedness? How do we handle children who are deceitful? Absalom is a grown man but his heart is like an errant child’s. He cares only for himself and not for his father. He is unrepentant and it will be his undoing.This story teaches us to always seek the face of God in trying times so we do not fall victim to the ways of the enemy.