He Answered Me

Read 2 Samuel 14:25 thru 16, Psalm 3
 
2 Samuel 15:21 But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens – whether it means life or death.”
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Psalms 3:1 O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 2 So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. 4 I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. 5 I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.”
 
TO help us understand Absalom’s dramatic rebellion against his father, we must remember the LORD’s Word when judging David’s sin with Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 12:11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” Then we see God’s unstoppable grace: v 13 David replied, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.”
   Absalom was a scheming, vindictive man. He had carefully crafted a four-year plan within David’s kingdom to turn Israel’s heart to himself and gain support to overthrow his father the king. How quickly our hearts can believe Deceivers who speak sweet words. David immediately recognized the danger to himself and Jerusalem’s citizens. So he fled east into the wilderness and across the Jordan River as Absalom came from the west.
   Among those with David is Ittai from Gath. You remember Gath, don’t you? The Philistine town is often in David’s story. Goliath and other giants came from there. David went there, too, escaping Saul. Ittai, a Philistine leader, spoke a deep commitment to David. Throughout the Bible, we see God’s story our LORD includes people of all backgrounds to express a living faith that was too often absent in Israel.  How ironic that the threats to David came from within his family while those who had been his enemies were by his side.
   Psalm 3 is one of David’s faith songs amid this rebellion. Great words of faith can transform trouble into triumph. Instead of saying, “God, where are you?” David said, “God is on his holy mountain.” David knew God watched over him while he slept. We, too, will know God in this way when we experience his presence in all circumstances. David’s pleas, his confessions and his praises point to his total trust in God’s will.        
   Rebellion remains in our story today, doesn’t it? Many rebels have various forms and shapes to destroy God’s kingdom from within and without. Be alert to the threats. Trust God to confess, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.”