Through the Bible: 2nd SamuelSample

Whether For Death or For Life

But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 

2 Samuel 15:21 (ESV) 

At the treachery of his son Absalom, David became a fugitive again, as a consequence of his actions of adultery and murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 12:11), and his inaction in the scandal of his eldest son Amnon’s raping his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13). In the face of all these, many people whom David formerly trusted had turned against him, but Ittai, the commander of David’s mercenary group, pledged his loyalty to David. Though David was proven guilty of his sins, God provided him with faithful companions just like Ittai who would rather die than abandon him. Ittai’s vow to David gives us a glimpse of Christ, who came to serve us (Mark 10:45) and die for us despite our sins (Romans 5:8). In the low points of life, people might choose to abandon God, but God will never choose to abandon us, whether in death or life.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to die for me and being there for me in every high and low of my life. The enemy is saying to my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” But you, O Lord, are my shield, my glory, and the lifter of my head! Salvation belongs to you, and your blessing be on your people through Jesus Christ! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!