Compare David's trust in God here with other instances in his life. David at the Summit: 2 Samuel 15:32 “ When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.” • David has just fled Jerusalem during Absalom’s coup. • He pauses on the Mount of Olives—still worshiping, still trusting—before plotting any strategy. • His first instinct is vertical (toward God), not horizontal (toward circumstances). Trust in the Face of Betrayal At this low point, David’s confidence rests on God’s sovereignty, not on political leverage. Earlier in the chapter he said, “If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, He will bring me back… but if He says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ here I am; let Him do to me as He sees fit” (15 :25-26). That surrender undergirds the entire scene at the summit. Echoes from Earlier Days David’s life is a tapestry of repeated, growing trust. Compare the summit moment with these milestones: 1. Facing Goliath – 1 Samuel 17 :45-47 • Teenage shepherd, no armor, “the battle belongs to the LORD.” • Trust expressed in bold proclamation before the fight even begins. • Outcome: a public demonstration that God saves “not by sword or spear.” 2. Sparing Saul in the Cave – 1 Samuel 24 :4-7 • Opportunity to seize the throne by force. • David refuses: “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.” • Trust shows through restraint—waiting for God’s timing rather than grabbing what is promised. 3. Strengthened at Ziklag – 1 Samuel 30 :6-8 • City burned, families captured, his own men ready to stone him. • “David found strength in the LORD his God” and sought divine guidance before pursuing. • Trust surfaces in crisis through worship and inquiry, then obedience. 4. Seeking Guidance after Coronation – 2 Samuel 5 :19-25 • Now king, yet he still “inquired of the LORD” before each Philistine engagement. • Shows that elevated status never replaced dependence. 5. Worship after Personal Failure – 2 Samuel 12 :19-20 • Child dies as judgment for his sin. • David rises, washes, “went into the house of the LORD and worshiped.” • Trust displayed in submission to divine discipline and continued fellowship. Common Threads across the Episodes • Worship precedes action. • Confidence rests on God’s character, not circumstances or personal leverage. • Patience replaces self-promotion; David waits for God’s vindication. • Each test deepens the habit of seeking God first—whether with a sling, a sword left sheathed, a weeping band of soldiers, a royal army, or a shattered household. Growing Depth of Trust • Early courage (Goliath) blossoms into mature surrender (Absalom’s rebellion). • The summit scene reveals a seasoned heart: less about dramatic victory, more about quiet yieldedness. • David’s journey encourages the same trajectory—initial faith that dares, progressing into settled trust that bows. |
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