2 Samuel 16:1-14: David’s enemies – Part One

Introduction:

If I had to ask you what is one of the most destructive weapons at man’s disposal; what would you name? Over and over again the bible names the tongue. James 3:6, ‘And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.’ This verse tells us that the tongue is truly a weapon of mass destruction. It creates a whole world of unrighteousness, it stains the whole body, it sets on fire one’s entire life, and it is worse than radioactive it is like the fire of hell. In other words, you are alive and feel the full pain of the consequences. If you read the psalms you will note how David constantly refers to the tongue of the wicked, or the mouth of the wicked. He was constantly afflicted by the world of evil that pours from a sinner’s mouth. As an example listen to Psalm 12:1-4, ‘Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbour; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”’

2 Samuel 16 is a flurry of tongue lashings against David. Ziba’s lies, Shimei’s curses and Ahithophel’s destructive councils are all levelled at David. He is God’s anointed, yet he is persecuted and afflicted a constant victim of the tools of the father of lies. We have much to consider about the sins of the tongue in this chapter. We have to walk the same path as David confronted by the same types of weapons. We will see David walking through this battlefield with all the world apparently against him, and yet we will see the grace and power of God sustaining His people. This is our hope as we walk a similar road.