Intrigue
2 Samuel 15:13-37
It is very important that you read today’s passage for it is very detailed and more than a little interesting! The reason for the Daily Devotional is to get your head in the Word of God. It is far more important that you read His Words than mine. I’ve left you a link that will take you to an online Bible, or you can look it up in your own Bible, but READ IT!
One of the problems that people have with reading the Old Testament is the names of the characters involved in the action. They are very unfamiliar to us and that causes us to become confused as to what’s going on in the story. If that isn’t true for you, skip over this next little part. I want to make note of the “who’s who” in this passage. As you are reading the passage refer to the list below. It will be a great deal more interesting if you know who’s doing what.
David – Anointed King of Israel
Absalom – David’s oldest son (after he murdered Amnon)
Kerethites, Pelethites, Gittites – men from neighboring nations who had joined David as part of his army (mercenaries)
Ittai – Head of the Gittites (originally from Gath in Philistine territory) – faithful to David
Zadok – Priest in Jerusalem – loyal to David – sent into Jerusalem as a spy
Abiathar – Priest in Jerusalem – loyal to David – sent into Jerusalem as a spy
Ahimaaz – Priest and son of Zadok – sent into Jerusalem as a spy
Jonathan – Priest and son of Abiathar – sent into Jerusalem as a spy
Hushai – trusted adviser to David – sent into Jerusalem as a spy
Ahithophel – Bathsheba’s grandfather! And adviser to David – defected over to Absalom
Absalom has declared himself king and is marching into Jerusalem. David hears of the insurrection and wisely moves his entire household out of harm’s way. These are dangerous times and David has no reason to believe that Absalom will have any kind of mercy on his own brothers and sisters. But David doesn’t just roll over either. He sends spies back into Jerusalem along with the Ark of the Covenant (note: David does NOT see the Ark as lucky charm like his predecessor Saul, but knows that God is wherever He wants to be) and the spies and the Ark arrive at the same time as Absalom. David's plan is rather ingenious and he strikes early in the power struggle, thus keeping Absalom slightly off balance. All he asks Hushai to do is make the traitor Ahithophel’s advise look like foolishness. Absalom’s arrogance makes him the perfect patsy for this type of attack.
Aside from the details of the story, we have here a remarkable passage of Scripture that falls under the title of “David is a Type for Jesus”. Loosely, that means that we see the story of Jesus played out in the lives of an Old Testament hero. Others who fall into that category include Joseph (from Genesis 35-50) and Moses. While we are reading the words of 2 Samuel 15 we cannot help but think of the Passion of Jesus. Jesus is betrayed by one of his 12 chosen Disciples, Judas. David is betrayed by one of his closest advisers, his grandfather-in-law, Ahithophel. David makes the long slow march up to the Mount of Olives (the Garden of Gethsemane) barefoot (a sign of great sorrow and mourning). Even the suicide of Judas is repeated as Ahithophel kills himself as well (see 2 Samuel 17:23).
Once again, the perfection of the Scriptures cannot be overstated. The Gospel writers certainly knew this story of David and saw the comparisons themselves. We too now get to read both stories and see the symmetry and beauty of God’s story as David, a man after God’s own heart, deals with the sorrow of betrayal and rebellions just as our Lord Jesus did. What we see in both stories is that both David and Jesus accepted the sovereign power of the Father and submitted to His holy will. It was not easy for either of them but they were both obedient to Him. When we find ourselves in a place of sorrow, we too can rely on that same sovereign God to care of us and every detail of our problem. Things may not turn out as we thought they might (as in David’s case – Jesus knew exactly what was coming) but circumstances always play out as God intends, for He is always extending grace and mercy to us all.
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