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2Samuel
CHAPTER 15

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

He who is undisciplined for crime remains undisciplined.
Absalom began a plot to take over the kingdom. We must admit he is sincere in his effort and diligent about his business. But the plot is evil, for he desires to take over the kingdom NOW - from his own father!
Absalom positioned himself at the "gate" of Jerusalem to be in view of the public during business. He made comments that would gain everyone's attention.
He appealed to the people's view of a "king." He put 50 men before him to make him appear important, and rode in a chariot drawn by horses. THIS was Israel's idea of a "king" (1Samuel 8:20).

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Befriending the people as a good politician, Absalom "stole the hearts of the men of Israel."

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

The phrase "after forty years" may refer back to the time when David was first anointed as king (quite some years before Saul's death). It certainly doesn't refer to David's 40th year as king, because that was his LAST year - he reigned for 40 years.
Hebron was Absalom's birthplace (2Samuel 3:2-3), and the first place that David was anointed as king over Judah after Saul's death (2Samuel 2:3-4). I'm sure that nostalgia aided Absalom in his quest to take over the kingdom.
Absalom is "pulling out all the stops" and taking the "whistle tour" as a politician. But David believed his son and trusted him.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

Now Absalom leaves, but he sets the wheels in motion to ordain himself as NEW KING in Hebron. He even called Ahithopel into it. Ahithopel had either fallen "out of favor" with David or he had retired. He was living in Giloh, and somehow was convinced to throw his political weight with Absalom.
NOW HEAR THIS! The devil wants to slow the progress of Christianity (for it is the rightful kingdom of earth), and promote his OWN kingdom. In order to do that, he never ceases to use all the political gambits he can. BE PREPARED.
Register to vote, be informed, be involved in the election process. Stand up for Biblical morality, but always be sensitive to God's leadership by His Holy Spirit.
Yes, I know - most times we don't really have a clear-cut choice of candidates; but if we keep excercising the right to vote, it WILL make a difference.

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

Why didn't David stay and fight? Was he afraid to oppose his own son? Did he remember God's pronouncement that there would be bloody conflict in his family?
No, David said he didn't want the "city" (people of Jerusalem) to suffer because of him. Therefore, he chose the way of suffering to save them.
God had anointed David king of Israel until his death. NO ONE had the right to try and remove him. But David willingly removed himself for the sake of the people.
Jesus is the rightful KING of all the earth. He willingly chose the way of suffering in order to save people.

16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

David fled, leaving only 10 concubines to tend the house. Many people followed him. The personal "bodyguard" (Cherethites and Pelethites) went with him. Then there were other committed servants who had come from Gath, the Gittites. Ittai (and his 600 men) were Philistines who had come and sworn loyalty to David. Later Ittai is promoted to be in charge of 1/3 of the entire Israelite army (2Samuel 18:2).
David crossed over the Kidron Brook which was between Jerusalem and the Mt. of Olives. As he crossed, all the people wept bitterly. David was leaving the place of his rightful leadership and willingly subjecting himself to God's Divine authority.
If God truly wanted David to be king, He would show the right way for it to be done. If God had indeed decided to remove him, then David was willing for that to happen. In other words, David crossed Kidron to seek God's will in his life.
Later, Jesus would do the same thing. He crossed that brook to go into Gethsemane to pray. There He prayed so earnestly that His sweat was droplets of blood. But He prayed, "..not as I will, but as THOU wilt." (Matthew 26:39)

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

David told the High Priest Zadok to take the ark BACK to Jerusalem. His reason? He said if God wanted him as king, God would return him. ((Yes!! One day Jesus is going to RETURN!!))

27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

Zadok & Abiathar were instructed to return to Jerusalem and be the prophets they were supposed to be. According to verse 28, it would be these men who would tell David when it was time to return.
Friends, I want you to know that God has His eye on the CHURCH today! It is the church that signals when Jesus is to return, not the world! When the church is busy about doing God's will, He delays His coming for the salvation of the lost. When the church becomes lax in following God's will - Jesus will return. Paul said the "day of the Lord" would not come until first there was a "falling away" of the church (2Thessalonians 2:2-3).

30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

As David crossed the Kidron Brook, he went barefoot and weeping. I read that to mean he went HUMBLY and PRAYING.
Then while he was crossing, someone told him that Ahithopel had joined Absalom. He prayed for Ahithopel's counsel to be foolishness - or no good.
Many are those who are against Christianity and Biblical morality today. Let us who are Christians go "barefoot and weeping." Let us be humble and praying. Let us request that all those who propose another god besides Jesus be revealed for what they are: FOOLISH!

32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: 34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear. 37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Here is the man who got the most dangerous job of all - Hushai. He was indeed David's "friend." Hushai had probably replaced Ahithopel as David's chieft counselor when Ahithopel either retired or was sent away. He was willing to follow David. But when David requested that he return, he willingly did as his king requested.
Oh! Christian friend, have you considered leaving the church because of the constant conflict? Your KING JESUS requests you to return and be diligent in your work for Him.
David wanted Hushai to "defeat the counsel of Ahithopel" (verse 34). And that's exactly what Hushai did! In fact, we shall see in chapter 17, Hushai was responsible for giving David time to set up a new headquarters and prepare for battle. This delay also allowed Absalom time to repent.
God has kept us Christians in the world to tell of the mercy of Christ and defeat the counsel of the devil. God has kept us in the world that people might have time to repent.
The reason is because Jesus IS COMING AGAIN! And when He does, He will be coming to "judge and make war." (Revelation 19:11)

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