‘So the king returned’, v. 1. The man who left Jerusalem in tears was the anointed king and he was ultimately vindicated in the place which cast him out. The Lord Jesus was ‘despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief’, Isa. 53. 3, but He will return triumphantly!
When David returned, he was met by three people, each of whom pose a challenge to us:
Shimei, vv. 19-23. He cursed David when he left Jerusalem, but he was the first to hurry down to meet David when he returned, fall at his feet and confess his sin. His family ties may have linked him with Joseph and Benjamin, vv. 16, 20, but he was a hypocrite who used people to suit his own ends. Solomon placed restrictions upon him, which he readily accepted saying, ‘as my lord the king has said, so will thy servant do’, 1 Kgs. 1. 38. He soon broke that promise and Solomon ordered his death. If the Lord returned today, would He find hypocrisy in us?
Mephibosheth, vv. 24-30. He was a person who was not at home in this world until the king returned, v. 24, and one who recognized he owed everything to David, v. 28. Ziba’s deception had prevented him leaving Jerusalem with David, who tested his loyalty by saying, ‘Thou and Ziba divide the land’, v. 29. This land had once been entirely his and now he was being asked to share it with a deceiver! His response demonstrated his devotion. It was the safe return of the king, not land, that interested him. If the Lord returned today, would He find us longing to see Him, not at home in the world and recognizing we owe everything to Him?
Barzillai, vv. 31-39. He was a man who had been faithful to David over many years and had been prepared to give his possessions to him, v. 32. He had an eye for the spiritual potential of younger men, recommending David to take Chimham with him, v. 37. If the Lord returned today, would He find us faithful to Him? Sadly, Barzillai failed to respond to David’s offer to ‘Come thou over with me’, v. 33. He ‘returned unto his own place’, v. 39. It is so easy for us to do the same!
