Old Dog I
Back to: Armies of God 4 – The Intimacy Attitude
Armies of God 5 – Strangers and Exiles
Bob Neumann, 1998
Strangers and Exiles.
The whole purpose of posting these ‘lessons’ is to show the many in the wilderness that GOD indeed has not only a plan for us…but a purpose beyond what we may be able to comprehend. THE WORD is for our instruction, yet so little has really been studied and revealed that much of what has been given has been ignored and lost. Too many “open minded” and “liberal” thinkers have tried so hard to limit it and to deny it’s DIVINE INSPIRATION. Yet much of what has been passed on to us over almost 3500 years would not have been included if it were a human source issuing it.
Very little is really written about all the victories and positive constructive actions by the people in the narration. GOD seems more willing to document sin and cases of utter stupidity by men. Of course in our sin and iniquity we realize our transgressions and may seek GOD and HIS MERCY. And that is the whole point to these stories, or is it?
Maybe these stories are purposely constructed to speak to this last generation. Just call it ‘end time prophecies’.
Take the simple story of Absalom and his rebellion from FATHER BELOVED, and his attempt to usurp the throne. It all starts with sin, and ends with a GRIEVING FATHER KING, talk about shadows within shadows,
Absalom whose name means FATHER OF PEACE was David’s pride and joy. But David like literally every scriptural ‘dad’ really failed with his kids. It all starts with Amnon lusting for his sister and David’s nephew Jonadab, the son of Shimeah giving him a plan for seduction. What followed was the rape of David’s daughter Tamar, and nothing happened, “no justice” in the land, so Absalom assassinates his brother and runs away, still David literally does nothing. In time Absalom decides he wants the crown and wins ‘the people’ to his side.
And here is where the real story begins; David is again on the run, from his own son,
2 Samuel 15:14-22
14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
Literally David packed up and ran…why? Where was the ARMY he counted against GOD’S orders? They had subdued all the foreign kings. Killed all the giants. And now it was missing? Hundreds of thousands of warriors all veterans? David did not call out the ARMY because he had no idea who they would side with. Absalom had all the hot young bloods following his lead, eager to force a place for themselves in the coming power vacuum. Absalom had done all the tricks the church plays today. He created positive public relations and put on quite an impressive facade to portray himself in a positive light as he talked trash against rightful authority. In Absalom’s case his own father. It all looked good for a supplanter of GOD’S BELOVED.
18 and all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
600 men that came with him from Gath, who we called the “mighty men of valor”…the wilderness army. But please look at the three “wild cards” that just came out of nowhere. “All the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites” is an interesting group of non-Hebrews that you will ever see. The Cherethites dwelt along the sea, the Gittites were one of the five Philistine cities and GOD only knows where the Pelethites came from. What we do know is they gave complete allegiance to King David..
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
Ittai the Gittite is obviously known to King David. Yet David is willing to send him back to his pagan king. David has no relationship with him…no covenant ties that would require him to come to the aid of the KING OF ISRAEL, take it one step farther, David calls him an exile, one cut off from his homeland which is something David should be able to relate to. Obviously his arrival in besieged Jerusalem was not anticipated, see how David addresses him,
20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
David is telling Ittai that he is about to make a run out of Jerusalem, and the eventual return can not be foreseen any time soon. Strange how David ends his entertainment of Ittai…”mercy and truth be with thee.” and I believe Ittai was listening to the VOICE OF TRUTH when he answered David.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
Ittai acknowledges David’s GOD ahead of David and then commits himself to David as Ruth committed herself to Naomi. Must have struck a nerve with David because he now relents.
22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. (KJV)
Ittai did not come alone but brought his whole clan or tribe of the Gittites. Likewise might have been the Pelethites and the Cherethites. Talk about a “go for broke” gamble. There was no concept of “non-combatants” in these times. What is it that these pagans could see that the People of GOD were now blind to? That King David, sins and all, was still GOD’S ANOINTED.
Ittai’s name means ‘near’ or “belonging close”. And Ittai has chosen to side with GOD’S ‘‘BELOVED”, haven’t we? But does that explain what David then decides to do,
2 Samuel 18:2-5
2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
David’s approval is worth whatever cost this battle will take, once David is restored to his throne. David does what Gideon and Saul had done before, split his forces into three units. And placed them under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai???????
Abishai and Joab are obvious choices, with a long history of combat leadership, but Ittai? Maybe he had a big rep in Philistia, or maybe David had fought against him in his youth, or maybe it is something far deeper,
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
Now this was a large fighting force of proven veterans, and David was already anticipating a victory and was worried for ol’ Absalom.
5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. (KJV)
David did not want to see his boy killed even if same probably wouldn’t hesitate at killing good old dad, and if Abishai or Ittai had found Absalom the story may have ended differently. But Joab being the politically expedient assassin he has removed Absalom permanently as a threat to David.
And the story ends, but we still wonder about this authority given to Ittai, David was a worshipper and just maybe we can see Ittai fitting into one of David’s Psalms,
Psalm 18:1-50
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
Here is the midpoint of this Psalm, David wrote it when delivered from Saul yet it could have been written after the battle with Absalom. In verse 25 the word ‘‘upright’’ is the word ‘tamiym’ which means ‘entire’ or “complete”, .in the NIV it is translated as “faithful”, Ittai appears suddenly out of nowhere makes a commitment to a king apparently on his way out of power. Except it doesn’t happen that way. GOD is faithful and delivers HIS ANOINTED once again.
Ittai is an image of faith standing against all odds, or in the popular vernacular of today “against the flow’’. Today the issue of FOLLOWING THE BELOVED ONE is entirely an act of absolute faith. But it is the only game in town,
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore. (KJV)
David literally gave thanks unto GOD with heathens/pagans in attendance, but isn’t that our effective testimony today? GOD’S ARMY is made up of pagans that step out in sudden faith on the PROMISE from GOD’S ‘BELOVED ANOINTED’ of mercy and truth when we “cross over”,
Something not expected from the faint of heart or just plain lukewarm.
Selah
Bob In Miami