Peter Barnes | 2 Samuel 15:19-37
SERMON NOTES
TRIALS AND INTRIGUES
2 Samuel 15:19-37
There are three main episodes:
(a) Ittai the Gittite supports David;
(b) Zadok, Abiathar, and the priests were sent back to Jerusalem with the ark of God;
(c) Hushai is sent to be a spy for David in Absalom’s camp.
– Luke 22:28.
1. David’s magnanimity and Ittai’s loyalty.
– 15:19-21; like Naomi with Ruth – Ruth 1:8-16; also John 18:7-8.
Ittai responds with wonderful loyalty – 15:21. You do not follow Christ if He will promise you health and wealth and a good time of it. You just follow Christ.
2. David’s faith and the faithfulness of Zadok and Abiathar.
– 15:24-29; see Ps.51:4.
– in Samuel’s day, this sign of God’s presence had become degenerated in the people’s views – 1 Sam.4:1-11. The ark of the covenant is not a rabbit’s foot.
– David goes the way of Christ, complete with treachery from among his friends – 15:30-31.
3. David’s shrewdness and Hushai’s courage.
– 15:32-37. Arthur Pink does not like all this intrigue, and is critical of David here, but there is no hint of such criticism in the biblical text.
– Psalm 3.