Read:
- 2 Samuel 15
- 2 Samuel 16:1-12
- Psalm 3
Samuel anointed David as king long before Saul’s death. David spent years running from Saul, who wanted to kill him. All that time, David acted with integrity and faith in God. Contrast that with Absalom, David’s son. Absalom already killed Amnon, who was David’s oldest son and heir. Absalom was likely next in line, but instead of waiting for his turn, learning from his father, and becoming a man of godly character, Absalom decided he didn’t want to wait. He secretly started a rebellion. At first, he stole the people’s hearts by giving them justice (subtly telling them David’s justice was faulty), by lifting people up and claiming to be one of them (even though he didn’t believe the laws applied to him), and going up to Hebron to worship (even though worshipping God was not his plan).
Contrast that with Ittai, a foreigner. He wasn’t a man of Israel. He had no responsibility to follow David. Yet he vows that he will. He refers to the king again and again—not Absalom, who wanted to steal the kingdom, but David, God’s anointed. Ittai will follow David, but it will cost him.
This is the man we want to be most like. Absalom was a man of no integrity. But Ittai vowed to follow his king, no matter the cost. When we promise to fully follow Jesus, we’re doing the same thing, promising to stay with our Lord and Savior no matter the cost. It won’t always be easy, but it is always worth it.
Pray: God, make me into a person of integrity, gratitude, and faithfulness. I want to follow you with my whole heart and my entire life. Amen.