But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!” (2 Samuel 15:21)
Those words resonated with me today.
Ittai was a foreigner, probably a Philistine who had started following David when he was fleeing from Saul.
Why he left Philistia, we don’t know, but after years of being on the run with David, when David became king, Ittai had found a new home.
But now David was on the run again, this time from his son Absalom..
Ittai could have just stayed in his comfortable home in Jerusalem. But instead, he chose to follow David.
David tried to convince him to stay in Jerusalem, but Ittai was determined to follow, no matter the cost.
It made me think of another man in the New Testament who had said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus told him something similar to what David told Ittai.
Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20)
How the man responded, we don’t know. Did he like Ittai say, “Wherever my Lord is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there”?
Lord, you didn’t promise an easy life. But you love me. You saved me. You are my home. So wherever you are, my King, wherever you go, your servant will be there.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 