II Samuel 15:21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
Have you ever seen someone playing Candy Crush or similar games? It’s a matching game where you’re trying to clear a level by matching like candies. If you look over someone’s shoulder in an airplane you might notice they’re on level 500 or more! Easy success is built in to the game and it’s addictive! Game designers know that people want success and achieve-ment. They also know they don’t want to work to hard for them!
Ittai was a Gittite - a man from Gath. He was a Philistine that had only recently come to David’s service as a commander of soldiers. But now David was in big trouble. His son had risen against him and David was fleeing the city. What might have been a promotion yesterday has taken on a different flavor for Ittai. Only, it hasn’t. Because Ittai is committed.
He is committed wherever David might be. He thought the job was going to be in Jerusalem, the capital, but now they’re on the run. No matter. If David is there, he will go there too. His commitment extends to the ultimate. Whether in death or life! This is amazing loyalty for one who has just joined David’s service! He wasn’t without options. He could easily have gone over to the other side and been accepted, but he stayed true to David.
When we consider David’s greater Son, Jesus Christ, we should have this kind of commitment. Indeed, without it, we really have no commitment to Jesus. We must be committed wherever He may lead us. We might prefer the big city, but Jesus may call us to the country. We may have opted for one kind of work but Jesus calls us to something different. And life or death? Jesus says that any who follow Him must “take up their cross daily.” That’s death language. Meaning I have to die to my desire to be in charge of my own life.
When I think of Jesus, do I have a Candy Crush commitment - built on easy success and little effort? Or do I have an Ittai commitment - ready to go anywhere, ready to live or die for Him?
Blessings
Pastor Russ
