King David had to flee for his life more than once. On one of these occasions, we meet an interesting person called Ittai:
“13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my Lord the king decides.” 16So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house. 18And 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. 19Then 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. 20You 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.” 21But 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.” 22And 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. 23And 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.”
(2Sa 15:13-23)
When King David’s own son Absalom rebels, David leaves Jerusalem and flees into the wilderness because he does not want to expose his beloved city to Absalom’s ravages. When David, who is getting old, pauses for a moment as his faithful entourage walks past him out of the city of Jerusalem, he sees Ittai. Ittai was a Philistine from Gath (the same city from which Goliath came) who joined King David the day before with the intention of enlisting with his 600-man army to serve the king of Israel.
David is surprised to see Ittai following David out into the desert since he arrived only the day before. David graciously urges Ittai to go back to Jerusalem and rather join Absalom since he has no quarrel with Ittai. Why willingly go out into the desert with a lost king when you can join Israel’s new king?
But when David calls his son Absalom “king”, Ittai boldly replies that it is David who is the king of Israel, not Absalom. Ittai has come to serve the real king, even if it costs him his life and health. Ittai intends to stand by David’s side through good times as well as bad.
When David’s own people deserted him, a stranger stood loyally by his side. Ittai was not ashamed of David, but openly declared to all that he would serve the king both in death and in life.
At these words, David lets Ittai accompany David in his flight. Ittai teaches us that we should never underestimate a stranger and that true loyalty can come from unexpected places and only shows itself when we can lose out. Such loyalty is worth more than gold and harder to find than precious stones.
You have read a free chapter of my book Friend of Strangers. If you like this book, please consider purchasing the ebook through Amazon. Since English is not my native language, there may be some linguistic inaccuracies. Please contact me if you find any.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.