Slices
Prepare
‘Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise.’* Will you praise endlessly? Do at least a bit of it now!
*‘Take My Life and Let It Be’, Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836–79
Bible passage
David flees
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.
19 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.’
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 towards the wilderness.
24 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 favour 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. 28 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.
Explore
After resting on his laurels and inadvertently letting Absalom make a bid for the crown, David wakes up to what’s actually happening (v 13). Suddenly he’s on the case again with his role and with God. David’s story isn’t over yet, although the country folk watching him think it may be (v 23). No, David emerges with fresh determination. Wise call follows wise call. Did you spot them in today’s verses? If not, take another look.
David recognises and acts on the Lord’s sovereignty, knowing he’s at work. This is primarily God’s story. First, with his loyal supporters and soldiers, he strategically and compassionately leaves Jerusalem, so the city isn’t trashed and the people slaughtered (though, horribly, the ten concubines are left to their fate, v 16). Next, he generously gives permission for the Gittites to leave (though they don’t) – it’s not their battle, after all (vs 19–22). And David refuses to use the Ark as a kind of personal protection device (v 25) because he knows God is with him everywhere he goes – it’s all in the Lord’s hands (v 26).
When it looks as if he’s finished too, Jesus makes right call after right call... all the way to the cross. Knowledge of God’s sovereignty makes the hardest path possible. It’s when Jesus knows it’s time for him to ‘leave this world and go to the Father’ (John 13:1) that he picks up a towel and washes feet.
Respond
Reflect on Psalm 71:5. Tell the Lord your own story of times when you did all you could but in the end just had to rely on his knowing best. How did things turn out?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 51,52; Hebrews 9
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for a revival among the 95 in Wales and for more workers for the harvest field. Pray for health and energy for the SU team in Wales as they seek to support Faith Guides in growing God’s kingdom amongst those with no church connections.
