2 Samuel 16:1-4 (ESV)
When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “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 faint in the wilderness to drink.” And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
We have to be careful of those who come bearing gifts. We don’t always know if their heart is true or false. Solomon said it this way:
Proverbs 21:27 (ESV)
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
Proverbs 26:23 (ESV)
Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
The Greeks said it this way:
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Our society says it this way:
Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
In the above story of David fleeing Jerusalem because his son, Absalom, was revolting against him, Ziba comes with gifts for David and his friends. Ziba, a steward for Mephibosheth, claims that Mephibosheth has also revolted against David and wants to simply help David in his escape. Later we will read that Mephisbosheth has a completely different story (Read 2 Samuel 19:24-30.)
David will sort it out, but this first act of the plot can be deceiving. Ziba was simply trying to when favor more than he was trying to meet needs. He will get some financial and moral boast out of this act. But it is obvious that there was some deception in play.
We have to be aware of those who may try to win us with a bribe. Bribes are powerful:
Proverbs 17:8 (ESV)
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
Proverbs 17:23 (ESV)
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.
Ecclesiastes 7:7 (ESV)
Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.
Be careful when others come with gifts. Their heart may not be entirely with you.
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