Humbly Bow

 DEVOTION

2^ND SAMUEL

HUMBLY BOW

2 Sam 16:1-4

16:1 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had 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 The king asked Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert." 3 The king then asked, "Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba said to him, "He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.'" 4 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."

NIV

Here is a man of honor, who prepared supplies for David and his household for their journey away from Jerusalem. We also see a humble man in the person of David. Although he is the king, even if for the present disposed by his son Absalom, he projects both authority and thanksgiving. David returned Ziba’s kingdom to him, and Ziba humbly bowed before his king. There is no evidence of pride in either David or Ziba, but there is evidence of humility in both men. Ziba humbly prepared sustenance for David and his household, without holding anything back, making sure there was enough for their journey, wherever it took them. Our lesson is about humility in everything we do, as we should be serving our Lord in whatever way He leads us. Each of us is all part of the kingdom of God, co-heirs with Jesus, but not because of anything we have, or anything we do, other than accepting the Grace of God, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior. We do not even deserve God’s grace, and yet because of His love for us, He redeemed us. So, we serve our King, we bow humbly before our King, and although we cannot provide provisions for him, we can give Him the sacrifice of praise, and we can present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing. But the idea here is that because we are all His children, we humble ourselves before Him, and we live humbly before and with each other. Ziba bowed before the king, and his kingdom was restored to him. As we bow before our King, we have been restored into His kingdom forever and ever. Let us always remain humble as we live for Jesus and serve the kingdom of God in whatever He leads us. We humbly bow, knowing we find favor in your eyes, Oh Lord God, our King.