19 Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. 20 You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.”
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.”
- 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.”
- 2 Samuel 15
At this time, David was running away from His own city and throne because his own son was trying to kill him. This happened for the punishment of his sin committed against GOD when he had adultery of Uriah's wife and killed Uriah, and took his wife as his own. This prophecy was given years before it happened by the Prophet Nathan who had rebuked David in behalf of GOD. But in GOD's punishment and discipline towards HIS loved ones, HE has not rejected them even though they are being punished for such sins. Ittai a leader from Gath recognized this and pledged his loyalty to David.
This hard time in David's life was also a way of determining who his real friends are because David's throne was taken from him for a while and the people who truly were loyal to him ran away with him and those that didn't respect and recognized David's authority in Israel by GOD stayed in Jerusalem to serve the new King. David cried when this happened because it wasn't just an enemy that betrayed him but someone whom he loved and his very flesh and blood. Even when his flesh and blood rebelled against GOD by rebelling against his own father, GOD was still faithful to David and restored the Kingdom back to him. In this story we learn that GOD doesn't play favorites, but blesses those whose hearts are truly loyal to Him. David's heart was truly after GOD's own because He was always humble enough to admit his mistakes and repent of them.
