I’M DEPENDENT
Opening Prayer
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise” (Psa. 100:4). Any way you like!
Read 2 Samuel 15:13–26
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 toward 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 favor 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.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How do you know that God is with you?Absalom’s plot is now clear, and David’s onto it. His response is remarkable: under threat, he’s organized and decisive (14), generous-spirited with those who shouldn’t be caught up in the trouble (19,20), and positive (22), considering that the crowds tearfully foresee disaster.
David seems more dependent but more confident in the Lord. He leaves the city, palace and fortress behind—they’re not safe anyway (14). (Remember the water shaft under the walls; 5:8.) He’d rather all his men and families stay safe with Absalom than dragging them in on his side (assuming David’s side might be the weaker, 19,20). He sends the ark back to Jerusalem—God is with him anyway (25,26).
We’re here only because God the Father created us. We live only because he sustains us. We belong to him only because Jesus has saved us. We stay strong only because the Holy Spirit enables us. In our life and our mission to share Jesus, we’re totally dependent on the Lord, and that’s exactly what we were made to be.
Apply
Take time to notice today how God shows himself to you in the big things and the little things.
Closing prayer
Now pray Psalm 62:5–8 with a longing that others will come to know that the Lord is totally dependable in every way.
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