2 Samuel 15:24

2 Samuel 15:24 says, And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.  When David fled from Absalom, Zadok and the Levites brought the Ark of the Covenant with them.  This had represented God's presence with them, and they wanted it on their side.  As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit with us at all times and don't need a material reminder that He is with us.  Verse twenty-five adds, And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:  David told Zadok to return the Ark of God to the city, and if God showed him favor, he would return to see it there.  As followers of Christ, God has already shown us favor by granting us salvation, and even if the world destroys us, we will one day be called home to be with Him forever.  Verse twenty-six continues, But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.  David then said that if God had no delight in him, then let God do unto him as He saw fit.  As Christians, in any situation that we find ourselves in, we should simply turn the outcome over to God.  Verse twenty-seven states, The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.  David then asked Zadok if he were not a seer, or wiseman Matthew Henry says, and told him to return to the city with his two sons.  We as followers of Christ should have the wisdom of God to guide us.  Verse twenty-eight adds, See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.  David said that he would remain in the plain of the wilderness until he received word from Zadok that it was time to return.  We as followers of Christ should remain where God leads us in times of danger until He tells us it is safe to return to where we were.  If that never happens, we should just remain faithful to Him wherever He has led us until He calls us home to heaven.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.  Zadok and Abiathar carried the Ark back to Jerusalem and stayed there.  We as Christians on the other hand have the Holy Spirit with us to empower us wherever we go and we  should share the gospel everywhere we are led.  Verse thirty says, And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.  David went up on the Mount of Olivet in humility and weeping and the people with him went up also.  If we find ourselves in a bad situation today, we should humbly turn to God and seek His direction.  Verse thirty-one adds, And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.  Someone told David that Ahithophel was aligned with Absalom and he prayed that Ahithophel's plans would be turned to foolishness.  We can be sure that no matter how brilliant we may be that our plans if they are not in accordance with God's will are always going to amount to foolishness.   Verse thirty-two continues, And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:  While David was on the top of the mountain, Hushai came to him in an attitude of mourning.  Matthew Henry says that while David was humbly worshipping that God sent to him the person that would be able to help him.  God will often send just the right person to us to help us in our time of trouble, but even if He doesn't, we still have the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us if we will only turn to Him.  Verse thirty-three states, Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:   David told Hushai that if he continued to follow after David that he would be a burden to him.  Though we should support our fellow believers in times of trouble, we should never become a burden to them.  Verse thirty-four adds, But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.  David told Hushai that if he returned to Jerusalem and claimed to be loyal to Absalom that he could work against the council of Ahithophel.  Sometimes we may be better able to serve God from in the midst of our enemies.  Verse thirty-five continues, And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.  David told Hushai that he could gather intelligence about Absalom and send word to him by Zadok and Abiathar.  We as Christians should always work together to bring about God's will.  Verse thirty-six states, Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.  David told Hushai that Zadok and Abiathar had their two sons with them who could bring David word of what Absalom was doing.  Verse thirty-seven adds, So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.  Hushai returned to Jerusalem and Absalom got there also.  Hushai could have been putting himself in danger, but as a friend of David's he was willing to do what David asked him to do.  We as Christians should be willing to stand by our friends in times of trouble and help them if possible, even if this puts us in a dangerous situation.