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7th July
2 Samuel 15:13-37. David flees from Jerusalem
- If the Bible in general, and the historical books in particular, show
us anything, it is that there’s nowt so queer as folk. While Absalom
was capable of patience and cunning to achieve his revenge on his father
David, the king himself was a more complicated character. Some of the
episodes in the story of King David and his family are worse than anything
in East Enders! Yet David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel
13:14), and God forgave him and prospered his career.
- This passage begins with David receiving bad news (v.13), and David,
the mighty warrior, felt that he must escape from Jerusalem with some
faithful retainers. But even at the start of his crisis he was gracious and
considerate to Ittai (vv.19,20), in order to give him the best chance of
surviving: this was the complete opposite of the way he treated Uriah.
Although Absalom had ingratiated himself with the people of the Northern
Kingdom (Israel), many of the people of Judah were still loyal to David and
distraught to see him leave (v.23).
- In v.25 David showed his reverence for the Ark of the Covenant, feeling
that it should stay where it truly belonged, in Jerusalem. This shows great
unselfishness. In v.26 David put his trust in the justice of God, no matter
what the personal cost may be.
- From v.27 on David planned his own strategy of counter-espionage. In
this he thought human intervention might give God a helping hand, in spite
of his attitude shown in the previous verse!
- To consider
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- When things were really difficult, David trusted in God, and he also
found that his friends stuck by him.
- Prayer
- Father God, help me to value my friends, so that, in difficult times I
may find real support and encouragement; help me also to deepen my faith in
you, my rock and my fortress, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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