Submission to God’s Will

Beginning in today’s passage, David has a series of encounters as he evacuates Jerusalem to escape Absalom. The first two of these encounters are with friends, while the second two are not. We will look at these encounters over our next four studies.

In a dramatic show of loyalty to David, the high priests Zadok and Abiathar come out to the king as he is leaving. They are accompanied by Levites bearing the ark of the covenant. It seems they are prepared to accompany David, taking along the ark, Israel’s chief national treasure. Because the ark is the symbol of God’s presence, its possession would be a huge legitimizing factor for David. But David is not interested in any symbolic, political, or religious advantage. He knows it would be wrong to make the ark (that is, God) a pawn in this conflict; indeed, it would be terribly presumptuous. Why? Because David is aware that, in a sense, he is the pawn in this situation, for these things are happening to fulfill a prophecy against him because of his sin.

And so, rather than seek any advantage by his own cleverness, David throws himself completely on the mercy of God. He orders the priests to take the ark back to Jerusalem, and he declares his assurance that if God so chooses, he also will be brought back to the city. On the other hand, if God has another plan, David is willing to accept that, too. He understands that God would be completely just in deposing him and even in taking his life, for his sin was very great. Thus, he will not take the ark to use as a tool to try to win back his throne in some inappropriate way. Instead, he submits to God’s sovereignty. “It is our interest, as well as our duty, cheerfully to acquiesce in the will of God, whatever befalls us,” Matthew Henry writes. “That we may not complain of what is, let us see God’s hand in all events; and, that we may not be afraid of what shall be, let us see all events in God’s hand.”

But David does see one practical advantage to having the priests remain in Jerusalem. He urges Zadok to go back with Abiathar and their sons, but to send word to him in the wilderness as to how things turn out. In suggesting this, is David abandoning his submission to God’s will? By no means. Through Zadok, David can gain intelligence of Absalom’s plans and actions, then go to God in full humility to ask how he should proceed in light of what he knows.