Reading: II Samuel 15-16
And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again, and shew me both it, and His habitation: But if He thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him(II Sam. 15:24-26).
David was little more than a boy still in his father’s house when God anointed him as Saul’s successor, but he patiently waited decades before God saw fit to install him on the throne of Israel. Although David had the military might as well as the support of the people (I Sam. 18:5-7), he never once considered taking the kingdom from Saul by force. Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my Lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed (I Sam. 24:10). David trusted wholly in the judgment of God, and he was content to wait for Him to work His will. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will (Acts 13:22).
David’s patience was not a trait that Absalom, his son, had inherited. The death of Amnon had elevated Absalom to the position of heir apparent to David’s throne, and Absalom was not inclined to wait for his inheritance. After spending three years in exile in Syria (I Sam. 13:8-38), he returned to Israel with a rebellious heart and a mutinous spirit (15:1-6). Where David had been directed by the Spirit of God, Absalom was moved only by a sense of entitlement. He had no respect for his father or his father’s God, even going so far as to cloak his plan by claiming he needed to travel to Hebron to fulfill a vow to the Lord. Once there, he declared himself king and openly challenged his father’s right to rule over Israel (15:10-13).
The David who was forced to face his son’s betrayal was older and had much more worldly experience than the boy who had fled before Saul. This David had known the corruption of absolute power; he had been nearly broken by the weight of his own sin only to have been cleansed and renewed by God’s magnificent grace (Ps. 51). Yet despite the change in circumstance, one thing about David had remained constant. His life belonged to God, and his trust in Him was complete. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again, and shew me both it, and His habitation: But if He thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him. When David left Jerusalem ahead of his son’s advancing troops, his heart was broken (II Sam. 15:30), but his faith was intact. No matter what happened next, he was confident that God’s will would prevail.
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done(Luke 22:41-42).
Thought For TodayWalking God’s path with impatience is never virtuous or proactive, and the destination reached by following such an impulse is never desired.
Word Studies15:27 seer = prophet of God who has discernment (I Sam. 9:9); 15:28 certify = inform; 16:5 cursed still = shouted curses continuously.
Christ Portrayed:By David, as he rebuked his followers when they wanted to execute his enemies (II Sam. 16:10-11; compare I Sam. 26:8-9). When Jesus’ disciples wanted to do the same, He rebuked them, saying: Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them (Luke 9:54-56).
Pray For Staff:Judy McCrary • Country: Kuwait (2,695,316) in the Northeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula • Major Languages: Arabic, English • Some Religious Freedom • 85% Muslim; 15% Christian & Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray that you will obey the Word of God and not be just a deceived hearer (James 1:22).
Optional Reading:Acts 17