King David had promised his friend Jonathan, the son of King Saul, that he would be merciful to his descendants when he became king. Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, continued to fight to retain the kingdom, but eventually David became king over all of Israel.
After becoming king, David sought to keep his promise to Jonathan. (2 Samuel 9:1) Ziba had been a servant of Saul (2 Samuel 9:2-5), and tells about Jonathan’s son named Mephibosheth, who was lame. (9:6) David restored the lands of Saul to Mephibosheth (9:7), and had Ziba to work the land. (9:9-10)
In 2 Samuel 16, David is driven out of Jerusalem by his son, Absalom, who sought to usurp the throne. As David left the city, Ziba comes with mules to ride and food to eat. However, Ziba also comes with a slanderous lie about his master, Mephibosheth. When David asked Ziba about Mephibosheth, Ziba replies, “Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.” (2 Samuel 16:3) David immediately believed the lie and gave Mephibosheth’s lands to Ziba. (2 Samuel 16:4)
Like Paul Harvey’s radio program of years ago, we learn “the rest of the story” in 2 Samuel 19 when David returns to Jerusalem after Absalom was defeated. Mephibosheth comes to David and tells him how Ziba betrayed him. Instead of living a life of a restored king, we are told that Mephibosheth hadn’t “dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed …” (2 Samuel 19:24)
In answering David’s question of why he hadn’t come with Ziba, Mephibosheth replied, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said to him, I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king: for your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the King …” (2 Samuel 19:26-27 ESV) Ziba’s lie could have cost Mephibosheth his life! Ziba saw a way to discredit him and obtain his lands.
There are many today like Ziba, who will slander others if it helps them to obtain money, fame and higher position. One needs to obtain the full story from both sides in order to arrive at the truth.
At work, there are bosses who will claim credit for their employees’ work and blame them for their mess-ups. Others are hurt by their dishonesty.
Hearts and marriages have been broken due to lies! Covetous women have told lies to wives, in order to get their husbands. (Exodus 20:17) A chronic liar’s home may be broken up even if this time he may be telling the truth about an alleged affair. It is difficult to tell when liars are telling the truth. Some have cried “wolf” in the past, and are not believed in the present.
Many people’s reputations have been ruined by lies circulating on the internet. Many assasinate other’s character, and let the truth leak out slowly.
Every election, some politicians will lie about their opponents to obtain positions of power. The welfare of the citizens of this country depends on the ability of those in office to tell the truth.
A desire to help the needy becomes problematic when determining who is telling the truth, and who isn’t. A liar shouldn’t be helped with money. You cannot trust a liar to tell the truth! “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” (Colossians 3:9)