When David fled the city of Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion, he encountered six different encounters with people, three positive and three negative encounters. As David set out, there was no pomp in his departure from Jerusalem, only haste.
Ittai, the Committed Soldier, was the first person David encountered. David tried to get him and his six hundred followers to turn back, but Ittai would not. He 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” 2 Samuel 15:18-22).
Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, were there to follow David with the ark of the covenant. Zadok seemed to have assumed that where King David goes, there the ark must go. However, David insisted that the ark of God must not be part of his departure. The ark belonged to God, not the King. David did not want to presume that the ark of the covenant of God should be with him. It belonged in the city. It belonged to God. David trusted God’s promises and expected to return to Jerusalem. David asked Zadok, Abiathar, and their two sons to remain in Jerusalem and be his spies. They willingly placed their lives in danger for David (2 Sam 15:27-28).
Terrible news arrived at David’s worst moment: his most esteemed advisor, Ahithophel, had betrayed him. David prayed: “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness” (2 Samuel 15:31). Later, David would write, “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9).
Hushai, David’s Loyal Friend, was there weeping and mourning as the rest of the people were. David requested that he go back and convince Absalom that he was joining forces with him, and, having prayed that the Lord would turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness, Hushai was the answer to his prayer: “help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice” (2 Sam 15:34).
Ziba, the opportunist, was there. Ziba came with donkeys and provisions for everyone. It looked like the gift everyone wanted. Ziba was an opportunist who betrayed his master, Mephibosheth, while he convinced David to give him all of Mephibosheth’s estate. Time would prove who he really was. When asked where his master was, he answered, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’” (2 Sam 16:3). That was a lie!
Shimei, David’s enemy, was there cursing David. Shimei heaped all this abuse on David because he believed he could get away with it. Now that things had changed. His rage had made him completely irrational. Did he not think that David’s men would eliminate him in an instant? This is what resentment and hate do to a person.
Abishai, one of David’s soldiers, wanted to remove his head. Still, David replied: “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” (2 Samuel 16:10-12).
David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
David accepted what was happening as the Lord’s will. He did not know how or when, but he hoped the Lord would show him mercy, and the Lord did.
We can reflect on these six encounters and ask ourselves who we are.
· Ziba made a show of his devotion to the King, but it was false. He was the opportunist who was always looking out for himself.
·
Shimei abused the King, believing it was the
end for David. His hatred came to light when he thought he was free to say and
do what he had always wanted.
·
Abishai thought he could help his King by
resorting to violence. He is the person who resorts to violence because they
cannot see any other way to resolve their issues.
·
Ittai, the model disciple, only wanted to be
“with” his King.
·
Zadok and Abiathar were willing to risk their
lives to serve their King
·
Hushai was David’s friend who served the King
well.
