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the best and the worst

2 Samuel 15:13-37 (JDV)

2 Samuel 15:13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
2 Samuel 15:14 David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We must flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
2 Samuel 15:15 The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
2 Samuel 15:16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
2 Samuel 15:17 So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house
2 Samuel 15:18 while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and those from Gath — six hundred men who came with him from there — marched past the king.
2 Samuel 15:19 The king said to Ittai of Gath, “Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you’re both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
2 Samuel 15:20 Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May Yahveh show you kindness and faithfulness.”
2 Samuel 15:21 But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As Yahveh lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!”
2 Samuel 15:22 “March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him.
2 Samuel 15:23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching out of the city. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the wilderness.
2 Samuel 15:24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had finished marching past.
2 Samuel 15:25 Then the king instructed Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor with Yahveh, he will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place.
2 Samuel 15:26 However, if he should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am — he can do with me whatever pleases him.”
2 Samuel 15:27 The king also said to the priest Zadok, “Look, return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.
2 Samuel 15:28 Remember, I’ll wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
2 Samuel 15:29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.
2 Samuel 15:30 David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended.
2 Samuel 15:31 Then someone reported to David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” “Yahveh,” David pleaded, “please turn the advice of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
2 Samuel 15:32 When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
2 Samuel 15:33 David said to him, “If you go away with me, you’ll be a burden to me,
2 Samuel 15:34 but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, Your Majesty! Previously, I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can counteract Ahithophel’s advice for me.
2 Samuel 15:35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Report everything you hear from the palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.
2 Samuel 15:36 Take note: their two sons are there with them– Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. Send them to tell me everything you hear.”
2 Samuel 15:37 So Hushai, David’s personal adviser, entered Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

the best and the worst

Due to the rebellion of his son Absalom, David finds himself in transition after years of ruling Israel. He must flee Jerusalem, some friends going with him, and others staying behind to communicate to him later. This transition brings out the best and the worst in people. The loyal Gittites are a contrast to cursing Shimei. David’s attitude is that the LORD has allowed these events to happen, and so the LORD may return him. In the mean time, David must make the best of these trying times.

LORD, when we face times of transition, give us the courage to accept what is, and the faith to hope for what might be.