Don't Forget Your Gifts - 2 Samuel 15:13-37 - Part II

Don’t Forget Your Gifts – 2 Samuel 15:13-37 – Part II

There are times in the journey of faith when circumstances coalesce to coerce us to rely genuinely and unconditionally upon the goodness of Almighty God.  Usually, these occasions leave us with very limited options.  Not surprisingly, the available choices are not reasonable and practical opportunities as they would force us to violate spiritual principles and biblical values, equating with spiritual and intellectual suicide.  More practically, we would imprison ourselves to fear and paralysis were we to elect to abide by conditions incongruent with our fundamental common sense of justice and moral correctness. 

The object of his eldest son’s murderous rage and disdain, David flees Jerusalem casting his life upon the will of Almighty God.  The experienced and successful military general, David readily could choose to fight Absalom.  Undoubtedly, he would defeat his son’s forces.  Assuredly, this battle would culminate in Absalom’s death at his father’s directive.  Most probably, countless undeserving women and children, particularly those numbered with David’s household, would lose their lives.  Instead of this unnecessary calamity, David elects to put his life and the lives of his wives, children, concubines, servants and military forces into the hands of Almighty God.  He departs Jerusalem expeditiously; realizing he may never return to this grand and glorious city.  With complete resignation to God’s sovereign prerogative and perfect but sometimes inexplicable will, David leaves knowing he will only return if God extends His grace.

David’s action is not one of cowardice.  He does not leave because he fears Absalom.  David leaves relying upon the unquestionable faithfulness of Almighty God.  Since the days of his youth, David remembers the steadfast love and unending mercy of God.  In departing Jerusalem, David reaffirms his interdependence with the same God who demonstrates His loyal love in all situations.  Further, David avoids a deadly confrontation with Absalom hoping God’s mysterious redemptive ability will intervene miraculously to spare the useless loss of life.  Accordingly, David instructs his men to leave Jerusalem to avoid Absalom’s wrath. 

Average people learn of the magnitude of this political and military unrest.  They gather along David’s escape route to express their love, admiration, support of their beloved king and they unabashedly show their sorrow over this occurrence of familial and national disharmony.  The whole countryside weeps aloud as David’s entire family, his men and their families pass by. 

Zadok and Abiathar as well as all the Levites who were with them brought the ark of the covenant of God.  They set the Ark of the Covenant down and offer sacrifices until all the people leave.  The presence of the Ark of the Covenant and the priestly ritual sacrifices signify divine presence and an appeal for God’s protection upon the king and his family as they evade the murderous rampage of Absalom.  It is a reverential act of blessing and a prayer for survival, safety and return.  At its core, this act is religious and ritualistic.  It cannot equate with the actual presence of God who is not limited by space, time or human actions.  This scene in the countryside conjures images of the Passover and the crossing of the Red Sea.  The presence of the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and gathering of Levites reminds one of the priests who step first into the Red Sea.  In this scene, they offer to the king and his family the assurance of the presence of God as they embark upon an unknown wilderness.

However, I contend the act of the priests result in religious superstition and ineffective ritualism.  I commend them for seeking to emulate the tradition of the tabernacle which remains with the people of Israel during their wilderness wandering.  Conceivably, they think if the king takes the Ark of the Covenant with him, then he could rest in the assurance that God remains with him.  Parenthetically, they also did not want Absalom and his servants to take possession of the Ark of the Covenant.  Nevertheless, the priests appear to err in their thinking that the physical ark actually equated with the presence of the Lord.  Contemporarily, many disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ equate their edifices for worship and programming with the Church which the Bible states is the collective body of believers who covenant together to do the Lord’s work.  Notwithstanding their commendable intentions, the priests fail to appreciate that nothing replaces the actual presence of God.