#DailyBread Devotional THE HUMBLED KING #PREPARE Think about the toughest times of your life and how God helped you to survive through them. #Read 2 Samuel 15:13–26 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.” 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.” The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.” The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 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 all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king. 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.” 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. The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness. Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city. Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord ’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” (2 Samuel 15:13-26 NIV) Then the king said to Zadok, ‘Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place.’ 2 Samuel 15:25 (ESV) #EXPLORE David leaves Jerusalem to avoid a major war involving huge casualities on both sides. He is paying the price for his sin with Bathsheba – not only has it caused strife within his family but it is now threatening his kingship. Things are going from bad to worse as the long-term effects of David’s sin are beginning to make themselves horribly felt. Yet we see in these verses an unexpected level of care for people. Even at his most desperate, when he could do with all the support he can muster, David is prepared to release Ittai and his Gittite contingent from further obligations to him (vs 19,20). What does this say to you about David’s ability to react unselfishly under pressure? David realizes that if God is not supporting him it is pointless having the Ark. It is no guarantee of God’s blessing; the Israelites still lost battles with the Ark when God stopped supporting them (see 1 Samuel 4). So David returns it to Jerusalem (v 25). He is learning another lesson: that only true submission to God will save him (vs 25,26), not a symbol. #RESPOND Pray for anybody you know (it could be you) who is facing a stressful situation. Ask God to help them make wise, unselfish decisions, and to trust themselves fully to his care.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:16:25 +0000
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