Day 122-11

VIII - The Reign of David - 1025-985 B.C. ~ cont.

B. David's sin and its consequences ~ cont.

2. Absalom's rebellion ~ cont.

e. David flees from Absalom - 2 Samuel 15:13-16; Psalm 63:1-11

f. Ittai's loyalty - 2 Samuel 15:17-23

g. Priests care of Ark - 2 Samuel 15:24:28; Psalm 61:1-8

h. Ark goes to Jerusalem; David goes to Mount - 2 Samuel 15:29-30; Psalm 3:1-8; 22:1-31; 14:1-7; 53:1-6

{pages 538-542}

And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.  (2 Samuel 15:21)

Note...was or is this similar to what Ruth spoke to Naomi?

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.  (Ruth 1:16-17)

Henry's commentary on Ittai:  2. Ittai bravely resolved not to leave him, 2Sa_15:21. Where David is, whether in life or death, safe or in peril, there will this faithful friend of his be; and he confirms this resolution with an oath, that he might not be tempted to break it. Such a value has he for David, not for the sake of his wealth and greatness (for then he would have deserted him now that he saw him thus reduced), but for the sake of his wisdom and goodness, which were still the same, that, whatever comes of it, he will never leave him. Note, That is a friend indeed who loves at all times, and will adhere to us in adversity. Thus should we cleave to the Son of David with full purpose of heart that neither life nor death shall separate us from his love.

Which puts me in mind of the passage in Romans:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:35-39)

And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.  (2 Samuel 15:30)

Olivet, same as our Lord?  head covered, barefoot?  What does that mean?

E-Sword gave several instances for Mount of Olives in the NT.  I used Bible Atlas to get additional information.  Enjoy.

head - H7218 - From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literally or figuratively (in many applications, of place, time, rank, etc.).

covered - H2645 - A primitive root (compare H2644, H2653); to cover; by implication to veil, to incase, protect.  Used 12 times in 10 verses.  Used first in the passage above.  Also translated, cieled, overlaid, of Haman having his head covered.

barefoot - H3182 - From an unused root meaning to take off the shoes; unsandalled.  Used 5 times in 5 verses.  First usage in the passage above.  Isaiah went barefoot for 3 years as a sign; Jeremiah mentions being withholding thy (?) foot from being unshod.

Browsing the commentaries, head covered a sign of mourning.  Barefoot, those who were captured or enslaved were without footwear.  This site has several translations of the passage as well as a variety of commentaries.

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (Psalm 14:2-3)

Echoed in the New Testament:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (Romans 3:10-12)

David repeated it again in Psalms:

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.  God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (Psalm 53:1-3)

A slight variation on none good:

For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. (Jeremiah 4:22)

The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.  (Micah 7:2)

How can man want or choose God?  In and of himself (male or female) we would never choose God.  Though having knowledge of Him, we do not seek Him in our natural, rebellious state.  O Father, open the eyes of Your people, raise up those who will speak the Word with truth and clarity.  Open deaf ears to hear You.  O Lord, You have instructed us to pray for laborers into Your harvest, make it so Father, make it so.