David's Flight. 2
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Some years had passed since this dishonor had come upon the family of Ahithophel, and during that interval it appears that he had turned his back upon David and the court, and had quietly retired to his birthplace (2 Samuel 15:12). Brooding over the grievous wrongs which David had done to his family, the spirit of revenge would rankle in his heart. It seems that Absalom was well aware of this, and perceived that Ahithophel was only waiting for a suitable opportunity to give vent to his feelings and execute his meditated wrath upon the head of David. Does not this explain why Absalom approached him with confidence, made known to him his treason, and counted on him welcoming the news and becoming his fellow-worker? Does not this also account for so many of the people transferring their allegiance from a throne which they knew to be defiled with adultery and murder—to the rebellious son?
Not only does Ahithophel's blood-relationship to Bathsheba explain his readiness to take sides with Absalom against the king, and account for the common peoples' transference of loyalty—but it also supplies the key to David's own attitude and conduct at this time. It was additional evidence to him—that God was now dealing with him for his sins. And most blessed is it to observe him bowing so meekly to the Divine rod. David felt that to withstand Absalom, would be to resist the Lord Himself; therefore, instead of strengthening his forces in Jerusalem and maintaining his ground, he flees. We cannot but admire the lovely spiritual fruit brought forth by the Spirit at this time in David's heart—for to Him, and not to mere nature, must be attributed that which is here presented to our view.
Long before this we had occasion to admire the beautiful spirit evidenced by David when suffering for righteousness—now we behold it again when he was suffering for transgressions. Then we saw him as the martyr in the days of Saul—bringing forth the fruits of meekness, patience, and confidence in God, willing to be hounded by Saul day after day, and refusing to take vengeance into his own hands and smite the Lord's anointed. But here we see David as the penitent—his sin has found him out, brought into remembrance before God, and he submissively bows his head and accepts the consequences of his wrong-doing. This is very beautiful, manifesting again the workmanship of the Spirit of God in David. He alone can quieten the turbulent heart, subdue the rebellious will, and mortify that innate desire to take matters into our own hands; as He alone can bring us to humble ourselves beneath the mighty hand of God, and hold our peace when He visits our iniquity "with beating". "If they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating. But I will not withdraw My faithful love from him or betray My faithfulness." (Psalm 89:31-33)
Yes, it is, as we said in our opening paragraph, changing circumstances that afford opportunity for the development and exercise of different graces. Some graces are of the active and aggressive kind—while others are of a passive order, requiring quite another setting for their display. Some of the traits which mark the soldier on a battlefield would be altogether out of place were he languishing on a bed of sickness. Both spiritual joy and godly sorrow—are equally beautiful in their season. It would be most incongruous to mourn while the Bridegroom was present—but it is fitting for the children of the Bridegroom to fast when He is absent. As there are certain vegetables, fruits, and flowers which cannot be grown in lands which are unvisited by nipping winds and biting frosts—so there are some fruits of the Spirit which are only produced in the soil of severe trials, troubles and tribulations.
"And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my Lord the king shall appoint" (2 Samuel 15:15). What we have just said above, is equally pertinent to this verse; the sad situation confronting David revealed plainly, the state of heart of those in his immediate employment. The revolt of Absalom and his stealing the hearts of so many of the people, afforded an opportunity for these servants of David to manifest their unswerving loyalty and deep devotion to their master. Very blessed is this, supplying as it does the sequel to what was before us in verse six. There we saw that Absalom was a man well-calculated to captivate the multitude. But let it be duly noted, that he possessed no attractions for those who were nearest to David. That illustrates an important principle: while we maintain communion with Christ, the antitypical David—the baits of Satan will have no influence over us!
Let us observe, too, that changing circumstances are necessary in order to test the loyalty of those who are on intimate terms with us. Not only did this revolt of Absalom's provide an occasion for the manifestation of David's subjection to the will of God—but it also served to make unmistakably evident—who were for and who were against David.
Prosperity is often a mixed blessing, and adversity is far from being an unmixed calamity. When the sunshine of Providence smiles upon a person, he is soon surrounded by those who profess great attachment to him; but when the dark clouds of Providence cover his horizon, most of those fawning flatterers will quickly take their departure. Ah, my reader, it is worth something to discover who really are our friends, and therefore we should not murmur if it takes the shaking of our nest and the disrupting of our peace—to make this plainly evident to us. Adversities are a gain when they expose to us the hypocrisy of an Ahithophel, and still more so when they prove the loyalty and love of the few who stand by us in the storm.
"So the king and his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to keep the palace in order" (2 Samuel 15:16). The writer feels his heart awed as he reads the second half of this verse—a very prosaic statement—yet one possessing depths which no human mind can fathom. Apparently David acted quite freely when he made this simple domestic arrangement—yet really he could do no otherwise, for he was being directed by the unerring and invincible hand of God, unto the outworking of His own counsels. David's object in leaving behind the ten concubines was "keep the palace in order," that is, to maintain the palace in some order and cleanliness; but God's design was to make good His own Word.
A part of the punishment which the Lord had announced should fall upon David for his evildoing was, "Because of what you have done, I, the Lord, will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will do this to you openly in the sight of all Israel" (2 Samuel 12:11, 12). The execution of that threat is recorded in, "So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went into the tent to sleep with his father's concubines!" (2 Samuel 16:22). The connecting link between the two, is seen here in our present passage: "And the king left no one behind except ten of his concubines to keep the palace in order" (2 Samuel 15:16). Again, we say David's object in leaving them behind was that they should "keep the palace in order," but God's purpose was that they should be publicly insulted, and raped by Absalom! Unspeakably solemn is this fact: God directs those actions which eventuate in evil—as truly as He does those which terminate in good. Not only all events—but all people, and their every action, are under the immediate control of the Most High God.
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever!" (Romans 11:36). Yet this neither makes God the "Author of sin" nor man an irresponsible creature; God is holy in all His ways, and man is accountable for all his actions. Whether or not we perceive the "consistency" of them—each of these basic truths must be held fast by us—nor must one be so maintained, that the other is virtually negated. Some will argue—If God has foreordained our every action, then we are no better than machines! Others insist—If man is a free agent, his actions cannot be directed by God. But Holy Writ exposes the vanity of such reasonings; so far as David knew—it was a voluntary act on his part when he decided to leave ten of his concubines in the house, nevertheless he was Divinely "constrained" in it for the accomplishment of God's purpose.
"So the king set out, with all the people following him. All 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." (2 Samuel 15:17, 18). No, "fair weather friends" were these! They had enjoyed with him the calm—they would not desert him in the storm; they had shared the privileges of Jerusalem, they would not abandon him now that he had become a fugitive and outcast. It is striking to note that while Absalom "stole the hearts of the men of Israel," all the Kerethites and Pelethites and Gittites remained steadfast to David. This is a foreshadowment of Christ, for whereas the Jewish nation despised and rejected Him—yet God's elect among the Gentiles have not been ashamed to be His followers.
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