On the last weekend of March 2025, I enjoyed spending some time with two childhood friends I had not seen in over thirty years.
Although connected via social media for several years, we had not been with each other until this weekend.
Losing my husband back in July 2024 prompted our decision to get together.
My friends wanted to support and encourage me even though one lived about two hours away and the other two days’ drive or a plane flight away.
We spent the time remembering experiences and people from our youth, laughing, crying, and laughing until we cried while exploring the sites, shopping and food near one of their homes.
What does this have to do with 2 Samuel 15:13-37?
Experiencing God’s Support Through Others
A study on 2 Samuel 15:13-37
Setting the scene
Leading up to 2 Samuel 15:13, King David’s son Absalom conspired to usurp David’s reign. (2 Samuel 13-15:12)
But before this even happened, David had sinned by seducing another man’s wife and then killing her husband. (2 Samuel 11)
The Lord told David the consequences of his sin would be that the sword would never depart from his house, that evil would arise from his own kin, his wives defiled, and the child from this sinful union would die. (2 Samuel 12:7-14)
Although David admits his sin, fasts and prays for the child. The Lord followed through with the stated consequence. (2 Samuel 12:15-23)
After this, we learn the Lord provides David and Bathsheba comfort in providing them with another child. Further, David returns to leading his army in a successful battle. These two things confirm the Lord forgave David of his sin, even though David still had to suffer the consequence of losing a child. (2 Samuel 12:24-31)
We pick up the scene now at 2 Samuel 15:13, where David learns the time has come for the consequence of evil arising from his own kin was now officially upon him.
13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” [1]
How does David respond to the news he received?
15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house. 18 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.[2]
Given the backstory reviewed above, why were the servants loyal to David?
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.”[3]
Verse nineteen starts with “then the king” referring to David. But David tells Ittai to “go back and stay with the king,” referring to his son Absalom, whom they were fleeing.
What else does David tell Ittai and what does this reveal about David’s character?
21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness. [4]
Compare Ittai’s response to David with Ruth’s response to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-18. What is the point of this support from foreigners outside of the nation of Israel’s blood relatives? (See Genesis 12:1-3)
24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of 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 let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” [5]
What is interesting about David’s response to the Levites offering their support for him?
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there. [6]
What other reasons did David have for sending the Levites back to Jerusalem?
How did David’s followers support him in this terrible situation?
30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” 32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head.[7]
33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be 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 have been your father’s servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.”[8]
37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. [9]
How did God answer David’s prayer?
Why did Hushai support David?
Experiencing God’s Support Through Others
Seeing this in our own lives
My time with childhood friends the last weekend of March was not the only support I have received over the last eight months since being so stunned at the loss of my earthly husband.
The incredible outpouring of support from the very first day of learning the horrible news to this very day has both blessed and overwhelmed me.
Sympathy cards, gift cards for groceries and household items, text messages, emails, hugs, prayers and various acts of service have been an incredible blessing as I have faced a trial I never expected.
The kindness and generosity of complete strangers has been another amazing provision as well.
I credit the Lord for moving the hearts of those who have supported me and continue to do so as I learn to navigate a new pathway.
Who, humanly speaking, helped you the most through a hard trial in your own life?
Explain how this was also God’s support and provision for you.
What song helps you praise the Lord for his support of you?
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:13–14.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:15–18.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:19–20.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:21–23.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:24–26.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:27–29.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:30–32.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:33–36.
[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 15:37.