Week 8 - Day 4

June 25, 2008
Day 4/ Week 8
Traitors and Friends

Today’s Treasure: 2 Samuel 17: 14
“Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.’ For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom”
Read 2 Samuel 16: 1 – 14. For the sake of review, identify the following individuals. Look back at 2 Samuel 9 if necessary.
Mephibosheth: Son of Jonathan – embraced by David and taken in as his grandson (since he was the grandson of Saul). He is crippled in both legs
Ziba: He was a servant in Saul’s household…David sent him after Mephibosheth
In your own words, what was Ziba telling David about Mephibosheth?
A: Mephibosheth stayed home and did not support David in battle because he felt his grandfather’s kingdom would be restored to him that day. David felt like Mephibosheth was betraying him.
Why do you think David might have so readily believed he had been betrayed by Mephibosheth?
A: David’s wounds are fresh from the betrayal of his own son, Absalom. It is difficult for him to trust anyone at this point.
What did David give Ziba?
A: He appointed to Ziba all that belonged to Mephibosheth
Shimei, son of Gera, insulted David in several ways. List them:
 He cursed David
He threw stones at him
He told David he got what he deserved
How did Abishai respond to Shimei’s actions toward David?
A: He wanted to kill him
Why wouldn’t David let Abishai defend him?
A: David probably believed the insults being hurled at him by Shimei. David believed that the Lord may have told him to say these things to David.

Day 4/ Week 8 (cont’d)
Restate David’s hope in verse 12 in your own words:
A: “…It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today”
How did the king and his people arrive at their destination?
A: exhausted
Can you remember ever feeling like someone took advantage of you at a time when you were vulnerable, as Shimei did to David? Yes
While I was in college, I worked as a waitress which was a great job. When I graduated, I felt that I needed to find a “real job”. So, I immediately went to work in a large bank in the Charlotte area. I was given an amazing opportunity (to have just graduated) and was excited at the potential. Unfortunately, this was also my first experience of working in a corporate environment where all of my co-workers were women. I can tell you that I never imagined how terrible women can treat one another. Needless to say, I fell prey to a great deal of backstabbing and unkind sentiments from several of these women. If it had not been for one true friend that I made there, I don’t know what I would have done. She was older than me and taught me to just keep working hard. Her friendship carried me through the difficult times when the others tried to bring me down. You learn very quickly that money is the driving force in the corporate environment…not friendships.

Have you or someone you love ever made a poor or hasty decision at a vulnerable time? Yes
When Brian’s mom passed away, we watched his dad make many poor decisions when his heart was broken. He reached out for advice from way to many people, and he became even more confused. He began seeking out female companionship immediately for fear of being alone. Within 6 weeks, he told us that he was planning to remarry a woman he just met. You can imagine that my husband was devastated. My husband had to really get in his father’s face about the decisions he was making, and he did not remarry. Now, it has been over a year. He seems to be making better decisions and we feel much more comfortable with the idea of him dating.

With just a word or two, describe a time when you have experienced humiliation.
This time in my life is humiliating to me because I lack a lot of confidence. I find myself not wanting to engage in a lot of social activities because my hair is gone. I am comfortable around my true friends, but it is hard for me to be around new people or large groups of people. I always wonder what they are thinking. I guess it’s my own insecurity, but it is real. I just feel stripped of the confidence I had before.

How can you refresh yourself when you have been down a rocky path?
When I am down, I find peace in pray. I also like to spend time with Brian and seek out encouragement from him. I like to rest and find scripture that encourages me.
Day 4/ Week 8 (cont’d)
Think of a time when you have been down or in vulnerable circumstances. Who did God send to encourage you?
Wow, Sandy and I just talked about this ten minutes ago!!! There is never a week that goes by that God does not encourage me. When I was first diagnosed, it was my friends and family that came together to lift me up with cards, phone calls and visits. Then, we found Dr. Peppercorn, and he was an answer to prayer. His positive attitude has been an amazing resource for us. Even my triage nurse and PA , Felicia and Dana, do a great job of encouraging me. Then, last week I found a sister in cancer that was sharing the same battle as me. Now, yesterday, I was visited by a wonderful man in the treatment center. He was over cancer research @ a large pharmaceutical company. He sat with us for a long time and shared all the promising treatments that are out there to prolong my life!!!! It was an amazing experience. I know each of these people have been sent to hold me up on this journey!!!

Thank you for sharing with me!!!
Have a blessed day, and I love you all,
Tiff