For Death or For Life

And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 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.” And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness. (2 Samuel 15:18-23 ESV)

If you don’t already know, David is my favorite Bible character, well, other than Jesus of course. But I can just see how because of his own relationship with God, his life has reached out and blessed the lives of other. People who have no reason to follow him or owe him anything are willing to risk and even give up their lives for him. David is the ultimate leader, a leader who doesn’t have to coerce people to do anything, but who’s first priority are the people around him. If he is going to do anything, all he does is tell people and they will follow him in droves.

The context of the passage is that Absalom his son is planning a takeover of Israel and David has to flee to save his life basically. And at this one point, him and a whole buttload of people are leaving with him. And he goes up to one of the leaders of the Gittites, Ittai, and asks him why he’s following them when he could stay in Jerusalem without having to suffer any consequences. David’s like, “dude, I don’t even know where I’m going, you can go back with your whole tribe and be safe man. You don’t owe me anything and I’m even asking that the Lord would pour out love and blessings on you.” But the guy said, “As the LORD lives…” now that’s a big statement, well a couple of reasons. one because HE DOES LIVE, and two, cuz He’s not dying anytime soon nor can He die. rofl. Then he says, and as long as you, King David, live, and wherever you go, whether you’re going to try to survive or going to get yourself killed, I’ll be there with you.” THAT’S CRAZY MAN. Now that’s some loyalty and love right there. I truly wonder what kind of man David was in life. From what I read, I would love to meet and follow him. What kind of a man commands people who are willing to follow him even though he himself doesnt know where he’s going or what’s going to happen to him? That’s like suicide in every aspect man. It’s boggles me and makes me want to be someone like that. To love people so much to the point where they’ll be in a life or death relationship with me. They have the choice of ditching me on the side of the road when bad tidings come, but they’ll be there to get beat up too just to die along side me. I want to create those kinds of relationships where I’m only thinking of the people around me. I want to be like David.

I know that David was a man after God’s own heart. That’s what I’m going for. As long as the Lord lives. For Death or For Life. Where my Lord the King shall be, there also your servant shall be.