Gospel Reflections #1102: Vessels that reflect God’s love

2 Samuel 15:19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, ‘Why are you joining us? Go back and stay with your king; you are a foreigner here, and a refugee in this land.’

This is a crucial scene in which the loyalty of Ittai the Gittite, a foreigner, is put to the test amidst the tense situation where Absalom, son of King David, had staged a rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem.

Absalom, David’s son, had won over the hearts of the people, proclaimed himself king in Hebron, and marched on Jerusalem.

To prevent the capital from being drenched in blood, David narrowly escaped with his loyal followers and bodyguards. Ittai was a foreign general from the Philistine city of ‘Gath’ (the hometown of Goliath, a former enemy).

He had only just sought asylum with David, bringing with him 600 men.

David told Ittai, ‘Go back and stay with that king (Absalom).’ There were two reasons for this. Firstly, it was an expression of David’s consideration; he felt it would be inappropriate to involve a foreigner who had only just arrived in the struggle for the throne within Israel.

It also served to ascertain Itai’s own volition—whether he was truly prepared to entrust his life to David, whose defeat seemed increasingly likely.

In verse 21, which follows verse 19, Itai makes a historic declaration of loyalty: ‘As the Lord lives, and as my lord the King lives, this servant will follow wherever my lord the King may go, to share both life and death with him.’ Whilst the people of Israel—including his own son Absalom and his close adviser Ahithophel—were betraying David, it was, ironically, Itai, a foreigner, who demonstrated the strongest loyalty.

This teaches us that it is precisely in times of tribulation that it becomes clear ‘who are the true friends and who love God’s anointed King (David)’.

In biblical commentary, this passage is applied to the attitude of faith regarding ‘how far one is willing to follow the Suffering Lord (Christ)’.

We are taught that true faith is not merely following Christ when circumstances are favourable, but continuing to follow the Lord with the resolve to ‘share in life and death’—just as Ittai did—even in the ‘darkest of times’ (the Way of the Cross), such as when David was driven from the capital.

Although our loyalty is imperfect, the inclination of our hearts to respond to the boundless love poured out by God leads us towards perfect loyalty.

It was surely because Itai experienced David’s love—and, through that, the presence of God behind him—that he was able to declare his loyalty, even at the cost of his life.

May we, too, be guided to become vessels that reflect God’s love.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.