In Saturday's study we found Absalom moving forward with his plans to usurp the throne of his father David. He gathered many supporters and then had himself declared king in Hebron of Judah, which was his city of birth and David's original capital city. As part of his coronation ceremony, in order to make it appear to everyone as if he had even more supporters than he actually does, he invited two hundred of David's officials to go with him from Jerusalem to Hebron to attend a sacrifice. They had not turned against David and had no idea what type of ceremony they would actually be attending but the damage was done---a large number of the nation's citizens believed these men had turned against David. Also Absalom invited one of David's chief advisors, Ahithophel, to the ceremony. It's debatable whether or not Ahithophel knew ahead of time that a coup was afoot but we'll see later in the book that he's all for it.
Word comes to David at the palace regarding his son's treachery and the growing movement that's behind his bid for the throne. "A messenger came and told David, 'The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.'" (2 Samuel 15:13) This is bad news. It is not wholly accurate news. Although the Bible told us yesterday that the conspiracy to overtake the throne was growing and that Absalom continued to gather more followers, the words of the messenger give the impression that almost everyone is behind Absalom now. David probably realizes that he has not lost the support of every person in the nation but he also realizes he and his supporters, along with the city of Jerusalem and all its citizens, are in serious danger. In order to prevent the city from being surrounded and attacked, and to keep the citizens of the city safe, and to keep his wives and children safe, David hastily makes plans to vacate the city.
"Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, 'Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.'" (2 Samuel 15:14) David is no coward. He's a battle-hardened warrior. But he doesn't want any casualties among the people of Jerusalem and he knows that a number of innocent men, women, and children will die if war breaks out. He knows that all of his own sons will be slaughtered if the city falls to Absalom and his men, for Absalom would not leave alive any potential rival to the throne. If it were only David's life that was in danger, he might have simply made his stand and fought back along with his faithful soldiers, but he is not willing to risk the lives of all these innocent people. In addition, for the sake of Israel he cannot risk his own life because it's not in the best interests of the people for him to perish and for Absalom to become their king. Some scholars have accused David of a lack of faith when he leaves Jerusalem but I personally believe he had no choice if he wanted to preserve his kingship, his family, his capital city, and the people of the city. It's plan to see from his words in verse 14 that he's extremely concerned for the people of Jerusalem, for he expresses his fear that Absalom will "put the city to the sword". It would be natural for David to be concerned about his own life, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I don't feel as if he runs out of the city gates in a panic. I think he makes a quick but very wise and very orderly departure from the city. This departure is the best solution at the time for everyone involved.
The fact that David's officials are so quick to agree with his proposal and their willingness to immediately get on board with it is further proof that David isn't running away in a panic. These men believe he's doing the right thing and throw their full support behind him. "The king's officials answered him, 'Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.'" (2 Samuel 15:15) David's top officials are some of the wisest men in the nation. Had they believed David was making a mistake, they would not have instantly agreed with his opinion of the situation but would have offered alternative solutions. They, like David, do not want to see the city surrounded by enemies. They don't want the citizens of Jerusalem bottled up inside the city walls by a siege. They don't want the citizens of Jerusalem slaughtered if Absalom and his men are able to get inside the walls. They also don't know who, already inside of Jerusalem, may be on Absalom's side. It's highly probable that at least some of these people are more sympathetic to Absalom than to David. If Absalom shows up with his men and surrounds the city, any supporters he has inside the city will rise up and attack the palace and anyone who gets in their way.
"The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace." (2 Samuel 15:16) David knows these women will be safe now that he is out of the palace. There's no reason for Absalom to attack the palace if David and all of his sons are absent from it. David is correct in believing Absalom has no interest in killing these women. Absalom will, instead, have an entirely different kind of contact with them later in the book.
"So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. All his men marched past him, along with the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king." (2 Samuel 15:17-18) David stops at the city gates and allows his hundreds of personal bodyguards, the members of his own family, and his officials to make a safe exit ahead of him. As the person with the most authority and responsibility in the group, he leaves last so that he is certain every one of them gets out without being attacked by any enemies within the city. I also think he leaves last because it breaks his heart to leave at all. I can't help picturing him standing just inside the gates, taking one last pained look back, not knowing for certain if he will ever step foot inside these walls again.
One of the last people to pass by him is a Gittite by the name of Ittai. David knows this man has only been in Jerusalem for one day and he makes it clear to Ittai that he does not expect him to fight for him. Ittai just met the king the day before and David tells him that he does not have to accompany him. They scarcely know each other and David lets Ittai know that he's under no obligation to risk his life defending him. "The king said to Ittai the Gittite, 'Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.'" (2 Samuel 15:19-20) David says, "You just joined my service about twenty-four hours ago and brought your family, the soldiers under your command, and their families with you. If you leave the city with me, I cannot promise you we will ever return. I cannot guarantee your safety or the safety of those who belong to you. I know you wanted to come and work for me but I don't expect you to keep the terms of the contract you signed when you joined my secret service yesterday. You are not obligated to fulfill those terms; the situation has changed drastically since then. I would not only understand your desire to remain in Jerusalem but would support it. Under the circumstances, and because we barely know each other, I do not expect or command your loyalty and I do not expect or command you to risk yourself or those with you. You have my permission to remain and you have my blessing as well."
This newly-arrived foreigner shows more loyalty and more integrity than many of David's own countrymen. "But Ittai replied to the king, 'As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.' David said to Ittai, 'Go ahead, march on.' So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him." (2 Samuel 15:21-22) This man deserves the blessing of having his name written down in the holy Scriptures! What an encouragement he must have been to David in a time when his son and heir-apparent has betrayed him, in a time when a large number of his own citizens have betrayed him! The Lord never leaves us without someone on our side, even though it's tempting to say to ourselves in times of deep distress, "I am all alone! Nobody cares about me!" The person or persons on our side may be someone we least expected to stand with us but the Lord knows how to encourage us when we need it most, and He often does it through other people. We know in our hearts, of course, that the Lord cares about us but we can't see Him with our eyes or hear His voice with our ears. In our human weakness we need the sight of someone standing with us. We need the sound of someone's encouraging words in our ears. You'll recall that even the Lord Jesus, in His humanity, asked for the support of His closest friends during His darkest hours.
David is going through some very dark hours. But he encourages himself in the Lord and one reason he is able to encourage himself in the Lord is, in my opinion, because the Lord encouraged him by the words of Ittai. Psalm 3 was written by David when he fled Jerusalem ahead of Absalom's arrival there and in that psalm he talks about how many people are against him and how many people are telling him to let go of his hopes for keeping the throne. But in that same psalm he states his intention to keep trusting the Lord who cares for and encourages him. We close today's study with the words of Psalm 3:1-8: "Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May Your blessing be on Your people."
No comments:
Post a Comment