Loyalty and cursing
2 Samuel Chapter 15 – 16:14
Conflict between David and his son, Absalom, continues, as Absalom tries to win the hearts of the people by setting himself up as an unofficial, but accessible, judge.
Ultimately he sets himself up as a rival king in Hebron, where David had first reigned.
While David flees, some of his followers remain loyal to him. The ark is brought out with David, but he sends it back to Jerusalem, humbly accepting that if it is God’s will he will be reunited with it, but if he has lost God’s favor, he will not.
As we are approaching Lent and the crucifixion beyond that, it’s notable that David mourns at the Mount of Olives. Many generations later that will also be where Jesus mourns over his own betrayal the night before his crucifixion.
David sends one of his loyal servants back to Jerusalem as a double agent of sorts.
Ziba, the servant of Saul’s son Mephibosheth, deserts his master to serve David.
Today’s reading ends with the story of Shemei cursing David and throwing rocks at him. As with the potential loss of the ark, David reacts philosophically and accepts the abuse as possibly being God’s will.