Today's Reading:

2 Samuel 16
2 Samuel 17
2 Samuel 18

When Absalom gathered the people of Israel to his side and forced David to flee Jerusalem, God was working in the background. He sent unexpected grace from a foreigner named Ittai the Gittite. Just days earlier, Ittai was recorded in Scripture when he showed his loyalty to David after only being with him for two days (2 Samuel 15:19-22). Ittai was from Gath, the same Philistine city as Goliath, an old enemy city of Israel. Concerned for his safety and in a moment of humility, David tried to send him back. Ittai had refused and vowed loyalty with devotion (similar to Ruth’s devotion). “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.”

David let Ittai and his 600 men, along with their families, join him. During his short time with David, he earned David’s trust and became one of the three lead commanders of David’s army. This is pure grace at work. Ittai was undeserved help, unexpected loyalty, and timely strength in numbers. David’s sin had consequences, but God used the unexpected outsider to help save the kingdom. The Lord can send the right people to the right place at the right time to help you. Thank you, Lord, for those you have sent into our lives; let our hearts recognize Your grace in them. Have you recognized an “Ittai” from God, who was sent into your life?

 

David had fled from Jerusalem when Absalom was trying to take over. Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth (David’s friend and Saul’s grandson), brought donkeys and food supplies to David. He lied to David that Mephibosheth was back in Jerusalem waiting to reclaim Saul’s throne, making Mephibosheth seem disloyal. David gave away Mephibosheth’s land to Ziba.

Shimei, a descendant of Saul, cursed David, believing he was the reason for the downfall of Saul’s family. Thinking that David’s sin made Absalom take over the throne. The family pelted David with stones as he traveled by. David refused to let his men kill Shimei, saying that God might be using this to curse him and that his time of ruling could be ending.

Absalom and all of Israel (N) came to Jerusalem with Ahithophel (David’s former advisor, now a traitor). Ahithophel was characterized as being so wise that it was like speaking to the Lord Himself (2 Samuel 16:23). Ahithophel told Absalom to publicly sleep with David’s concubines, which was an irreversible declaration of overthrowing David. When Absalom slept with the women on the roof, it echoed the sin of David seeing Bathsheba on the roof earlier. It also fulfilled Nathan’s earlier prophecy against David (2 Samuel 12:11-12).

Hushai, a loyal friend to David, pretended to support Absalom. He advised Absalom not to immediately attack, but to gather a large army from all of Israel. He said that if Absalom attacked first and lost by David, a great warrior, then his men would look bad. Hushai used this manipulative strategy to give David time to flee. This was all in God’s plan to disrupt Ahithophel’s plans. Hushai had the two high priests, Abiathar and Zadok, send word to David via their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, of the plans.

Ahithophel realized his advice had been rejected, so he settled his estate and then hung himself. There were a few reasons he may have killed himself: He figured Absalom would lose to David, that as a traitor to David that he would be killed, suicide would protect his family from any retaliation, and that his pride was wounded. It was also possible that he was Bathsheba’s grandfather and still held a grudge against David. Some scholars believe there was a parallel to Ahithophel and Judas Iscariot from the New Testament who betrayed Jesus. Both had hung themselves over a king when the plot to overthrow them unraveled (Mathew 27:5).

Absalom had a change in commanders; he had removed Joab and appointed Amasa who was his cousin and David’s nephew. David had been given provisions again to help strengthen him and his men for war. David divided his army under three leaders. One under Joab, one under Joab’s brother Abishai, and one under Ittai the Gittite. David wanted to fight (unlike the time when he stayed behind and sinned with Bathsheba), but the men said he was too valuable and to stay behind. He gave strict orders that everyone understood, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.”

During the battle in the forest of Ephraim, Absalom’s hair got caught in a tree branch while riding his mule. A soldier saw him hanging there and refused to kill him because of David’s orders. Joab ignored the order; he took three javelins and speared him in the heart, then 10 men struck and killed him, very much overkill. They threw him into a pit instead of giving him a proper royal burial. They piled stones on top of him like a shameful “monument” that echoed Saul’s self-made monument of stones (1 Samuel 15:12). Both Saul and Absalom built monuments to themselves in moments of pride, self-promotion, and rebellion against God’s authority, and both ended in ruin.

Ahimaaz, the priest’s son, wanted to run and tell David the news, but Joab first sent a Cushite (Ethiopian) runner instead, because the messengers of news were often killed. This sheds a whole new light on the modern phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger.” Eventually, Ahimaaz was allowed to run by a different route. He arrived first but only gave the good news about the victory and avoided mentioning Absalom’s death. When David heard his rebellious son was dead, he was utterly devastated.

Today's Discussion question: 

Click here to link to our Facebook group for discussion, questions, and additional content.