2 Samuel 15:13-31| A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.” 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.” The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.” The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 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. 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. 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.” 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.” 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. 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. 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. 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. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” 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. I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there. But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
Lorenzo Quinn’s 900-pound aluminum sculpture called “Hand of God” features a gigantic open hand with a man seated on the highest part of an upturned palm. The man appears to be troubled and his posture reflects deep discouragement. But the hand that holds him up is much larger than he is.
Of certain situations, we’ll say, “It’s in God’s hands,” meaning that He’ll determine the outcome. David recognized this when his son Absalom tried to take over as the king of Israel. Absalom “stole the hearts of all the people of Israel” and stirred up rebellion against his father in Hebron (2 Samuel 15:6-12).
When David learned that all of Israel had joined Absalom, he left Jerusalem. Zadok and the priests followed him, carrying the ark of the covenant (v.24). Headed into the wilderness, David told Zadok to take the ark back to the city. He said, “If the Lord sees fit… He will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him” (vv.25-26).
I find it interesting that David, a famous warrior, didn’t try to fight Absalom for the throne. And although he was deeply sad, he didn’t express despair. David saw himself as being fully in God’s hands. He knew that he would determine Israel’s king—not him, and not Absalom.
During another difficult time in David’s life, someone reminded him, “Your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch!” (1 Samuel 25:29). As believers in Jesus, we can rest in the same God who kept David safe. We can relax and trust Him. He knows what He’s doing, and as Jesus said, “No one can snatch [believers] from the Father’s hand” (John 10:29). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
MORE: Read John 10:27-30 to learn about the security a believer has in Jesus. Read Psalm 32:8 to take in some comforting words for those who are in His hands.
NEXT: Do you believe that you determine what happens to you, or do you believe God determines your life events? How might this affect the way you engage in spiritual disciplines?