Aug 8, 2021. II Samuel 15:24-37

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PALACE INTRIGUE.  II Samuel 15:24-37.  08/08/2021.  #34.

2 Samuel 15:24-37 [New King James Version]

24 There was Zadok also, and all the Levites 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 finished crossing over from the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place. 26 But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there. 30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. 31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” 32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai, D

  1. A priestly send-off
    1. Zadok, the High Priest, carried the Ark of the Covenant down to the Brook Kidron to bless David’s men in their retreat
      1.  Reminiscent of crossing Jordan by Joshua
      1.  Even though David faces the consequences of his actions, he is still God’s choice for the throne
    1. David instructs Zadok to take Ark back to the Tabernacle
      1.  The Ark belonged in the Tabernacle
      1.  Zadok is loyal to David, so David wants to use him and his priests to inform David what Abs. is doing
        1.  Zadok’s son, Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son, Jonathan will send messages to the king
        1.  David plans his strategy to gather inform.
      1.  David tells Zadok that if God is pleased with him, he will see the Tabernacle again
        1.  If God is done with David, he won’t return
        1.  We can short-circuit our usefulness to God via sin (Moses, Eli, 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Corinthians 9:27)
    1. David can’t regain what he has lost and can’t claim what he had thrown away by his sin
    1. The priest now is also part of a spy network (citizen duties require believers to apply faith to national obligations)
  2. Ascent of tears
    1. David and those fleeing Jer. weep as they ascent Mt. of Olives
      1.  The loss of kingdom and position grieves them
      1.  David knows that this is his fault
      1.  The people must share his punishment and disgrace (many realize this, yet are still loyal to David)
    1. David is informed that Ahithophel, the grandfather of Bathsheba and chief advisor to David, is among conspirators
      1.  It would be understandable if Ahimaaz held a grudge against David for what he had done to Bathsheba
      1. Ahimaaz’s advice was always wise and effective
    1. David seemed to have had no idea that Ahimaaz would betray him – a grave blow to David
  3. Spy network
    1. David’s friend, Hushai, appears in deep mourning
      1.  He wanted to go with David
      1.  He is apparently another advisor
    1. David informs Hushai that he would just add to the burden of the people he would have to care for
      1.  Hushai would be more effective to counter the counsel of Ahithophel
        1.  He is to pretend that he would serve Absalom like he had served David
        1.  Hushai would then pass on Abs.’s plans to Zadok, who would then send Jonathan or Ahimaaz to inform David
      1.  David’s plan depends on Hushai selling his story to Absalom and then gaining Absalom’s confidence
    1. Absalom enters Jerusalem unopposed
      1.  He is confident of ultimate success and power
      1.  His loss of respect for David turns into disdain and outright rebellion
    1. No indication that Absalom is seeking the Lord
      1.  As with Eli and Samuel, David’s sons do not seem to be spiritually oriented

 David seems to have little influence over family David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.