David Wept

DAVID WEPT

a prayer to open

My Lord, my God, show me your heart. Ground me in your presence.

Draw me near and hold me close.

Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. . . . Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. . . .

Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the LORD sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”

The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.” . . .

David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O LORD, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”

When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice. Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”

David was betrayed not only by his son Absalom but also by his trusted adviser Ahithophel. As he fled Jerusalem to escape these coconspirators, David must have been grieving about returning to a life on the run, wondering what would become of his kingdom and God’s promise that it would endure forever. Indeed, there is nothing quite like betrayal to cause us to doubt ourselves and God’s presence and provision in our lives.

• Why did David weep as he walked up the Mount of Olives?
• What situation in your life do you need to release to God’s care and ask him, as David did, to do whatever seems good to him?
• Is there anyone in your life who has been betrayed by a spouse, friend, or colleague? How might you reach out to listen to that person’s story and empathize with the pain he or she has experienced?

Father, there is so much betrayal and heartbreak in the world. Help me be a person who can be trusted, keeps promises, and remains faithful. I surrender, as best I can, every part of my life to you. Do with my life whatever seems good in your eyes. Help me be an empathetic listening ear to the hurting and betrayed. Amen.