The Guy Ittai 2 sam 15:
- Everything has a leader, either by default or design. You can get together with a group of friends to try and decide where to go and what to do, and a leader will rise up from the group.
- Businesses, families, organizations, families, everything has a leader- you’re either leading or being led-
- All of us- need to follow Jesus- All of us. We may lead in an area, but we must be led by HIM
- In this story messengers come to David so he knows about Absaloms favor and power increasing with Israel. David has all his people leave Jerusalem. 10 concubines stay back to watch the palace. David tells ittai, go back to your people. You shouldn’t wander around with me. Ittai pledges his allegiance to continue to serve him, so David lets him stay with all his men.
- Abiathar and Zadok want to bring the ark, but David has them stay in Jerusalem with the ark.
- So they walk to the mt of olives weeping. David gets word that Ahithophel is with Absalom. He prays that Ahithophels word and counsel will be foolish to Absalom. Gets to the top of the mount, sends Hushai back to Jerusalem and pretend that he is serving Absalom. Hushai, Zadok, and Abithar can work together, spy and return with intel for David. Hushai goes back right before Absalom gets to Jerusalem.
- Its an interesting story to say the least- David leaves the fight with Absalom, but sets up some intelligence gathering- hopefully to regain his kingship. Enlists priests and officials to help.
- On the surface it may seem that David is giving up power, but he’s just regathering. He eventually gets back to Jerusalem.
- In the middle of this story we see a great act of submission to King David-
- 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
- Ittai was a Gittite. Gittites were philistines. So here’s a guy who used to be the enemy of Israel, and somehow finds himself submitted to the kingship of David- his servant
- David even gives him an out- tells him he’s an exile and that he should leave but he doesn’t
- Ittai was a former enemy of Israel turned servant- and when the moment came to show his loyalty- he doubles down- he make a great statement that shows his level of commitment
- He makes it clear who his leader is- Its David. David has problems, he’s got problems- whatever place he’s going, hes going, whatever it costs him, he’s gonna be where he is. Period.
- We’re not Ittai, but we too are former enemies of God Ro 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
- employed in his Army- and have a decision on what type of troops we’re going to be.
- 2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
- Spurgeon said this- ‘As the Lord liveth, surely in whatsoever place my Lord and Savior shall be, whether in death or life, even there also shall His servant be.’
- We’re at war! It’s a spiritual war, but its also a ideological war. It’s the small stuff and the big stuff- but every day we have to make a decision on if we are going to be loyal to our king!
- And its an all encompassing endeavor to constantly please God and live for him
- 2 cor 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
- Follow where the Lord Goes
- In this story- David is leaving Jerusalem to go to the Mt of Olives. Probably not where we are going- but God leads us- and we have to make a decision if we’re going where he is going
- “in whatever place he may be” Is Ittais proclamation- That mean if David is going to the Mt Of Olives, Ittai is going there to.
- What ittai is committed to- is going where his leader is going, even if he doesn’t understand what he is doing or why he’s doing it- He’s going to trust and follow.
- Here’s what Ittai didn’t probably realize- David seems to arbitrarily going to the Mt of Olives, but he’s not. This is a special place-
- The Olive Tree is a symbol of Israel, the Temple of God, and is a symbol of the Holy of Holies. olive was the first tree to grow after the Flood, Kings get anointed with olive oil,
- olive trees have deep theological symbolism inside and outside the temple
- And when David was hurting, lost, looking for direction- he went to the Mt of Olives
- It doesn’t say he just went away to some place. He went to the same place that
- Lk 21:37 Jesus spent nights In mt olives Mt 23-24, goes to pronounce judgment upon the Temple and Jerusalem. In Mt 26:30, he went after celebrating the Passover and Lord’s Supper, The place he and His disciples went. Jesus went to Gethsemane, which means Olive Press, to pray to God before his crucifixion. Jesus was crucified on the Mount of Olives.
- Jesus also ascended into the heavenly Temple from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12)
- That’s where Ittai goes- following David- The holy symbolic place looking for what to do.
- A symbolic place of spiritual connection and deep significance- unknown by the follower
- What does it mean to you
- You have to follow where the Lord leads you. He is guiding you. He is leading you.
- When Ittai says “wherever you go” It’s a difficult proclamation because it agrees to an unknown destination- No clear place, destination or meaning- but complete trust
- Who is leading you? What and who determines your steps? Shaping YOUR life?
- Following is submission and guidance- its asking and waiting and searching
- The Lord leads you into obedience, but he also leads you into character development
- What parts of your character are you asking God to change and to improve?
- Are you asking God to refine your character and your heart to be more like Jesus?
- 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
- What were his steps? Jesus was the balance between grace and truth- ate with prostitutes Matt 21:31–32 touched unclean lepers Luke 5:13 ate repeatedly with Pharisees Luke 7:36–50 forgave the enemies who crucified him Luke 23:34 friends who were let him downMt 26:40–43
- Jesus was insistent on bearing witness to the truth.T hough. He didn’t let the truth slide just because he showed people grace. He was actionable grace and verbal truth- follow THAT
- Zacchaeus, saw Jesus love and embrace, but was told to repent, Luke 19:1–9Jesus treated sexually immoral women with grace and respect publicly Luke 7:39; Samaritan woman truth calls to her repent John 4:13–18).
- He is full of grace and truth- They are not mutually exclusive- you don’t have to choose one jn 1:14-
- This is a path we should follow- Its not either or- its both- we need to show people love, grace and mercy, but not at the expense of the truth.
- Yes- I love you sinner, but I don’t love your sin, and I encourage you to repent in Jesus name!
- Talking to my kids this week about divorce- situation- “isn’t that something they should have worked through” yes! You forgive sin and you bring restoration and peace
- Here’s the deal- Ittai walked to the Mt of Olives with David- not knowing what it meant
- We can walk to the Mt of Olives with Jesus today- we can go where he went
- Go to the Mount with Jesus to get to know the father, defend the holiness of God, be crucified with Jesus, and ascend into heaven with him.
- No limit to sacrifice
- “whether in death or life” Is what Ittai Said- it was his intention to follow David to death
- He didn’t say- I’ll follow you until it gets uncomfortable, or it loses its luster- no til death
- And We’ll see him again later in chp 18- He’s down for the cause! He’s committed
- David knows commitment- Ps 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.- David was committed to God- no matter what it took-
- There was a Guy in the New Testament who had this level of commitment as well
- His name was Peter he made a big vow to Jesus- John 13:36-37 Said he would follow
- But he didn’t. He denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus said he would in 13:38
- Eventually, Peter came back around, but the truth is that he let Jesus down- he had limits
- Ittai had no disclaimers- He didn’t limit his commitment- he just made a commitment
- What does it mean to you
- You can’t set limits to what God will ask of you- or what he can require of you
- God is looking for people who will follow him- Do what he asks- go where he goes
- Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
- You can’t simultaneously hold on to your life and try to live for Jesus at the same time
- Its all up for discussion, and its all on the table. You can’t set a limit to what you will do.
- Be established and committed- stay the course. Why are no inspiring movies about quitters?
- We love to be inspired by those stories, we just don’t want to live those stories, but we CAN
- 2 sam 15: 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
- A life of quitting isn’t a life that’s worth living. I get quitting- Wall sit ups- Nope- done
- This aint that- Jesus is asking for just one more!
- Ittais commitment was whether he lived or died, David could count on him to be w David
- Do you have that level of commitment to the Lord? Do you set limits on serving God?
- Nu 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the Lord,or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word;he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
- Only when its convenient, or when its not costly, or when its not painful, or unknown
- You can’t set limits on what you will and wont do with God- He wants your full commitment
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