The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’

2 Samuel 16:3

For Meditation

What a man! What magnanimity! The king was in trouble, running away from his rebel son. He needed supplies, and Ziba was there with plenty of it – “a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine” (2 Sam. 16:1).

David did not get his motive (2). Ziba’s response was simple. To refresh you and your entourage, he said in effect. Then, when asked, he told a lie about the situation of Mephibosheth, his master. “He is staying in Jerusalem because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

David missed it. You can sense the seething disappointment and anger in David’s tone as he pronounced his judgment on Mephibosheth.

When you are tired and wearied, any story is believable, especially coming from someone who has extended a kind gesture to you.

So, David rashly pronounced judgment on the crippled-son of his bosom friend, Jonathan, whom he had favored by inviting him to sit at his table with his nobles (9:1-13). 

Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king” (16:4).

Mission accomplished. King David was vulnerable, and crafty Ziba exploited his weakness. Does it strike a chord? How many people have come around you with stories about other people just to gain your favor? And how many times have you gotten entrapped by their craftiness? How many relationships have fallen victim to such appearances of good when it was all deception? 

Watch out for the Zibas around you. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing – ravenous and heartless. They care nothing about you but about their selfish interest. Reject them. Probe their stories and free yourselves from their deceptive and destructive ways.