If I Find Favor in the Lord’s Eyes

2 Samuel 15:13-37

Key Verses: 15:25-26

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. ²⁶ But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”

Introduction)

Absalom stole the Israelites’ heart and conspired to revolt against king David.  When Ahithophel, the David’s counselor,  joined Absalom, Absalom’s rebellion gained strength and his following kept on increasing (15:12).  When David heard the Absalom’s revolt, he decided to flee Jerusalem.  It was the lowest point in David’s life.  However, David humbly accepted God’s judgment and was ready to accept as his sovereignty whatever God would give him.

1.      Read verses 15:13-18. What does a messenger come to tell David? (13) What decision does David make upon the news? (14) How does the king’s official answer him? (15) When the king set out with his entire household, whom does he leave there and why? (16) Who does follow the king’s flight? (17, 18)

1-1)      Read verses 15:13-18.

¹³ A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”¹⁴ 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.”¹⁵ The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”¹⁶ The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. ¹⁸ 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.

1-2)      What does a messenger come to tell David?(13)

¹³ A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

1-3)      What decision does David make upon the news? (14)

“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.”

David did not know the strength of Absalom’s support.  He fears being trapped in Jerusalem, and he did not want to fight against his son, Absalom directly at Jerusalem. He may have accepted this terrible disaster as a part of God’s punishment for his sins.

¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” (2 Sam 12:11-12)

1-4)      How does the king’s official answer him? (15)

¹⁵ The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

There were still many servants loyal to king David.

1-5)      When the king set out with his entire household, whom does he leave there and why? (16)

¹⁶ The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace.

David unknowingly arranges for the fulfillment of one of Nathan’s prophecies.

¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” (2 Sam 12:11-12)

1-6)      Who does follow the king’s flight? (17, 18)

¹⁷ So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. ¹⁸ 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.

Kerethites from Negev (1 Samuel 30:14) and Pelethites (Philistine soldiers from Gath under the command of Ittai). These are foreign  soldiers as a royal guard for King David.

GITTITES

git'-its (gittim, plural of gittiy): The inhabitants of Gath. They are mentioned along with the inhabitants of the other chief Philistine cities in Joshua 13:3. It would seem that numbers of them emigrated to Judah, for we find 600 of them acting as a bodyguard to David with Ittai at their head (2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 18:2).

2. Read verses 15:19-23. What does the king suggest to Ittai the Gittie? (19, 20)

How does Ittai respond to the king? (21) What is the whole countryside react to the king’s flight? (22) Where does the king cross and where do they move on to? (23)

2-1)      Read verses 15:19-23.

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. ²⁰ 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.”^{[a] 21} 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.”²² 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. ²³ 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.

2-2)      What does the king suggest to Ittai the Gittie? (19, 20)

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. ²⁰ 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.”

There were a kind of hired foreign mercenary, so they did not have to risk their lives.  David understood their dilemma, so he suggested that they should serve Absalom as their king.

2-3)      How does Ittai respond to the king? (21)

“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.”

They showed their loyalty to the king, though many Israelites betrayed king David.

2-4)      What is the whole countryside react to the king’s flight? (22)

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.

2-5)      Where does the king cross and where do they move on to? (23)

²³ 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.

3.Read verses 15:24-27. Who are there with the king’s flight? (24a) What do they carry with them? (24b) What does Abiathar do until all the people have finished leaving the city? (24c) What does the king order to Zadok? (25a, 27) What is his reasoning? (25b, 26) How does the king accept God’s sovereignty?

3-1)      Read verses 15:24-27.

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. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” ²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons.

3-2)      Who are there with the king’s flight? (24a)

Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God.

3-3)      What do they carry with them? (24b)

They set down the ark of God,

3-4)      What does Abiathar do until all the people have finished leaving the city? (24c)

Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

3-5)      What does the king order to Zadok? (25a, 27)

²⁵ Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city.

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons.

3-6)      What is his reasoning? (25b, 26)

If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. ²⁶ But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”

3-7)      How does the king accept God’s sovereignty?

He did not complain of his adverse situation and accepted as a God’s sovereign will.  He humbly accepted God’s judgment.

4. Read verses 15:28-37. What will the king wait at the fords in the desert?(28) What is the condition of David and his people as they flee? (30) What is David’s prayer when he is told that Ahithophel is with Absalom? (31) When David arrived at the summit, who is there to meet him? (32) What is David’s assignment to Hushai? (33-37)

4-1)      Read verses 15:28-37.

I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there. ³⁰ But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. ³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” ³² When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. ³⁵ Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. ³⁶ Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.” ³⁷ So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.

4-2)      What will the king wait at the fords in the desert?(28)

“I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

David would wait the words from Zadok and Abiathar and their sons.

4-3) What is the condition of David and his people as they flee? (30)

³⁰ But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.

4-4)  What is David’s prayer when he is told that Ahithophel is with Absalom? (31)

³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

4-5)   When David arrived at the summit, who is there to meet him? (32)

³² When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head.

Hushai was  a king’s confidant. ³³ Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidan(1 Ch 27:33). He was the most trusted advisor to the king.  The Arkites were a clan (possibly non-Israelite) that inhabited an area southwest of Bethel (Jos 16:2).  Since Hushai was a trusted member of David’s  court, his appearance was the beginning of an answer to David’s prayer.

4-6)   What is David’s assignment to Hushai? (33-37)

He asked Hushai to return to Jerusalem and commanded him to frustrate Ahithophel’s advice.  He assigned Hushai to get Absalom’s palace information and to cooperate with Zadok and Abiathar and their sons.

In conclusion)

David fled Jerusalem because of his own son, Absalom’s revolt.  Humanly, it was most miserable disaster, however he understood this calamity was a part of God’s judgment and he humbly accepted  the results of this calamity as a God’s sovereign will, although humanly he did his best to defeat Absalom.

One word: I am ready!