David was forced by his son Absalom to flee Jerusalem. It was a tragedy which teaches us a number of key things about David. He was not willing to use the ark as a means to ‘manipulate’ God. He realises that submission to God is more desirable than forcing God through magical manipulation to do what he desires. Secondly, David does not seek revenge on people who are doing him wrong. He leaves room for God’s wrath as he primarily seeks God’s path for his life. We still see below the surface a David who is probably haunted by the guilt he endures over Bathsheba. Finally, David is still shrewd. He sets up double agents and infiltrators to learn what is truly behind the rebellion of his son. They will plant false information and deliver their own information via messengers.
2 Samuel 15:13-16:14
13A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”
14Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”
15The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”
16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.
19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness.”[c]
21But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”
22David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.
23The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.
24Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 26But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.
30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. 36Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”
37 So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.
1When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.
2The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”
Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
3The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”
Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”
4Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”
“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”
9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
10But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”
11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
Questions
- Why would David flee upon hearing of Absalom’s approach?
- How would you describe David’s attitude when he fled?
- What did David do to take care of those who cared for him?
- Why do refugees flee in today’s world?
- How are we to take care when we are in flight or are aware of others who are forced to flee?
Plymothian 
1. He wanted to protect the people and city of Jerusalem because if he was still there Absalom might try to take the city by force.
2. His attitude is one of sadness, but at the same time he trust in God to accomplish whatever His plan may be.
3. He did not make them come with him, but allowed them to stay in Jerusalem. When Ziba came to see him, David gave him everything that had belonged to Mephibosheth.
4. They flee to avoid a corrupt government or to find a better life in a different country.
5. If we are in flight we need to take time to think of those that are going with us or those that we leave behind and make sure that they are well taken care of. If someone else is fleeing, we should provide for them like Ziba provided for David.
1. He did not want to fight his son.
2. Sorrowful.
3. He let them stay behind in the city.
4. They are afraid and they want to live.
5. We need to be mindful of others, instead of looking out for number one, that is us.
# Why would David flee upon hearing of Absalom’s approach?
because he didn’t want to see another son killed.
# How would you describe David’s attitude when he fled?
Very sad, resigned, calm, realizing that it was only temporary.
# What did David do to take care of those who cared for him?
He gave them supplies and treated them with respect and grace.
# Why do refugees flee in today’s world?
Because they will be killed or in an unsafe area.
# How are we to take care when we are in flight or are aware of others who are forced to flee
We should realize the emotional strain of doing so,a nd make sure that we are sensitive to those people’s needs.
1.To avoid being killed.
2.Humility and sorrow
3.He entrusted his life and possessions to the Lord’s plan and gave all else away
4.They flee persecution, death and pain.
5.?
1 he didnt want to kill those who seeked harm against him
2. trusting of God and sad
3. he gave them his possessions
4. They run away from harmful governments that cause harm.
5. we should provide for others needs who are fleeing harm.
1) They were fleeing so Absolom would not overtake them.
2) He was calm and trusting fully on the Lord.
3) He blessed them and let them stay behind.
4) They are fleeing the problems in their own country.
5) We have to take care of them and watch out for them.
1. I believe David fleed upon hearing Absalom’s approach so that he would not get killed.
2. David’s attitude as he fled was trustful in God.
3. David blessed the people who cared for them.
4. I think the refugees flee in today’s world because they do not want to deal with reality and their problems.
5. We are supposed to take care of them and not give them pity.
1.Why would David flee upon hearing of Absalom’s approach?
Because David was afraid of being killed by Absalom
2.How would you describe David’s attitude when he fled?
He was not embarrassed, but calm.
3.What did David do to take care of those who cared for him?
He also cared for them.
4.Why do refugees flee in today’s world?
Because they have no ways to survive.
5.How are we to take care when we are in flight or are aware of others who are forced to flee?
We have to trust God and believe that we would be safe.
1. David fled because he didn’t want to be killed by Absalom.
3. David sent them back so that they would not be killed.
4. Refugees flee to escape death and punishment.
5. We should have compassion and help them when we can.
Why would David flee upon hearing of Absalom’s approach? because David thought Absalom would try to kill David.
How would you describe David’s attitude when he fled? v.26 David was still faithful and obedient to God.
What did David do to take care of those who cared for him? He blessed them and also he took care of them
Why do refugees flee in today’s world? … to survive?
How are we to take care when we are in flight or are aware of others who are forced to flee? if we are in a situation that we can help them, we should help with compassion.