2 Samuel 15

Verses 1-6, “After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, 'What city are you from?' And he would say, 'Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.' Then Absalom would say to him, 'Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.' Moreover Absalom would say, 'Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.' And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”

Like anyone who wants to challenge a leader's authority, Absalom began recruiting followers unto himself. They begin by creating dissatisfaction in the ones they are trying to influence. Then they present themselves as one who can fix their issues and bring satisfaction. In this case, David was portrayed as bad, without even using those words, because he wasn't meeting the perceived needs of the people that Absalom was fueling. In a nutshell, Absalom was causing division, which is something the Lord hates. Proverbs 6:16‭-‬19, “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”

There are Absalom's in churches today, because wickedness in man is an inherited trait that can be traced all the way back to Adam. Knowing that Satan would love to render a church body ineffective by dividing it, you must be on guard against people who behave this way, and stay far away from them.  Romans 16:17‭-‬18, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”

Verses 7-12, “Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, 'Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, “If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.” ' And the king said to him, “Go in peace.' So he arose and went to Hebron. Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, 'As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, “Absalom reigns in Hebron!” ' And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.”

When Absalom was ready to make his move, he acted as though he was going to do something spiritual, when he actually was committing treason. He gathered men to join his rebellion from Israel and even sent for his father's counselor Ahithophel. Among the men of Israel were those who knew they were being rebellious, mixed in with those who were not part of the evil plot, yet kept quiet. People think they can avoid conflict by not choosing a side, but failing to choose will often force you to one side or the other. We need to stand for what is right because by our silence, we can deny our Lord and Savior. Matthew 10:32‭-‬33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Verses 13-18, “Now a messenger came to David, saying, 'The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.' So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, 'Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.' And the king’s servants said to the king, 'We are your servants, ready to do whatever my Lord the king commands.' Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house. And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts. Then all his servants passed before him; and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.”

King David was warned about Absalom's rebellion, and chose to leave Jerusalem so that the city would not have disaster brought upon it. He watched as all his faithful servants passed before him, as the reality of his situation probably hit him hard. Maybe he even realized that his own failure to stand for righteousness, resulted in the horrible consequence he was now facing. David wrote in Psalm 55:4-8, “My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. And I said, 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.' ” Only God would be able to help him now.

Verses 19-22, “Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, 'Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place. In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.' But Ittai answered the king and said, 'As the Lord lives, and as my Lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my Lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.' So David said to Ittai, 'Go, and cross over.' Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.”

In the middle of David's storm, he sees a glimmer of goodness in Ittai the foreigner. He had just arrived in Jerusalem the day before, yet still pledged his loyalty to David, even though he was encouraged to return to the new king. But Ittai faithfully stated that David was the king, and he would remain with him regardless of the outcome. David's side probably didn't look like it would be the victorious one, but Ittai chose the right way over the popular way. How about you...are you willing to choose the unpopular way, regardless of the outcome, because you know what is right? Matthew 7:13‭-‬14, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Verses 23-29, “And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness. There was Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. Then the king said to Zadok, 'Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place. But if He says thus: “I have no delight in you,” here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.' The king also said to Zadok the priest, 'Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.' Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.”

David knew that the presence of the ark would not save him, so he ordered it to be returned to Jerusalem. He surrendered to the will of God, knowing that if He was willing, David would be brought back into the presence of God and the ark. This is an example of falling upon the grace of God. David certainly did nothing to deserve it, but because He is gracious, we can let go and trust Him. Knowing that Zadok was a prophet, David told him to seek God for information while he waited in the wilderness for a word.

Verses 30-37, “So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. Then someone told David, saying, 'Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' And David said, 'O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. David said to him, 'If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, “I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,” then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.' So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.”

Although grieved by the knowledge of Ahithophel turning against him, David was encouraged by his friend Hushai. So he sent him back to Jerusalem to frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, and to spy on the king's house to report through Zadok everything he heard. Notice that despite how bad David was feeling, he still worshiped God because He is worthy. When things do not go our way, we cannot get angry and blame God. Instead, by faith, David wrote these words in Psalms 3:1‭-‬8: Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah. But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah.