2 Samuel 15:23-29
23 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people were crossing over. The king was also crossing over the brook Kidron, and all the people were crossing over toward the way of the wilderness.
24 Now behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.
25 And the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back and show me both it and His habitation.
26 But if He says this: ‘I have no delight in you,’ then 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, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I am going to wait at the river crossing places of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.
David and Zadok
Trust in God
How do you respond and behave when placed in an extreme situation? In today’s passage, we see David and his followers crossing the Kidron Valley (a dry river) while the entire nation weeps aloud. They are setting out on a journey of escape into the unknown. This was truly an extreme crisis for David. Let us observe how David acted in this situation and draw lessons from his example. (1) The two priests, Zadok and Abiathar, along with all the Levites, came out from Jerusalem carrying the ark of God. The ark represented the presence and blessing of the Lord. They desired to bless David by bringing it with him. (2) However, David ordered that the ark be taken back into the city. He placed his trust not in the visible symbol of “the Ark of the Covenant” but in the Lord Himself (ref. Ps. 3:3). He also knew that the Ark would be of no help to Absalom, who lacked faith. Many people fall into “amulet-based faith,” but such reliance is in vain. (3) David made a confession of faith from two perspectives: “If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back and show me both it and His habitation. But if He says this: ‘I have no delight in you,’ then here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
Command to Zadok the priest
David then sent the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with their sons, back to Jerusalem with the ark of God. (1) They would remain in the city to act as spies on David’s behalf. Their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, would serve as messengers to bring news to David. (2) David decided to wait for their reports in the wilderness plain. David fully entrusted his fate into the hands of the Lord. This is the only posture of faith one can take in an extreme situation, and it is an example every Christian should follow. What do you learn from today’s passage?
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, I place my trust in You alone. My fate rests in Your hands. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.