In yesterday’s reading we were introduced to those who brought grief to David’s heart as he left the city of Jerusalem and crossed the brook Kidron during Absalom’s rebellion. However, the tears of sorrow were mingled with tears of joy as he considered those who remained devoted to him. They are described in a variety of ways.
‘All his servants that were with him’, v. 14. As he faced the disappointment of those who were against him, it encouraged him to see those who were ‘with him’; i.e. those who would say, ‘Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint (choose)’, v. 15.
‘And the king went forth, and all his household after (at his feet) him’, v. 16. Their feet followed in David’s footsteps, even though it meant treading a difficult path.
‘And all his servants passed on beside (in hand with) him’, v. 18. They were ready and willing to have fellowship with him in his sufferings and rejection.
‘And all his servants … passed on before (in full view of) the king’, v. 18. Their love for him meant that they were able to walk in full view of him and not be ashamed.
One character, Ittai (his name means, ‘near me’) the Gittite, must have brought particular delight to David’s heart. He is described as 'a stranger and also an exile’, v. 19, who ‘camest but yesterday’, v. 20. He was among those who were ‘aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world’, Eph. 2. 12. However, the grace and mercy of God brought him into contact with David, who tested his love by giving him every opportunity to return to Jerusalem, but he refused. The new believer often puts to shame those who have been on the Christian pathway for years! Ittai knew a God who lives and, even though David was rejected, he had the faith to see that he was the king. His total commitment was shown in his remarkable statement ‘surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also shall thy servant be’, v. 21. We may observe that his loyalty influenced those connected with him, v. 22.
