Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Samuel 15:22-26

"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. And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. And, lo, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him." — 2 Samuel 15:22-26 (ASV)

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. And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation; But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

David would run no risks with this sacred treasure. Though it would have been a great comfort to him to have the ark of the covenant with him, yet he cared too much for it to think of his own comfort alone. How careful we ought to be of the truth of God, and of the things of God, of which this ark was but a type! Lord, let us run whatever risks we may, but we would not expose your truth, or your good cause to any risk. Let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. What a grand spirit there was in David even in his exile!

There was a sweet spirit of song in him before his great fall, but that fall broke his voice, and he sang more hoarsely afterwards. Yet what depth, what volume, what melody and harmony are here; Deep calleth unto deep. What submission and subjection to the divine will; and, moreover, what a holy confidence! Let the Lord do as he wills; David feels himself to be less than nothing and submits himself absolutely to the divine purpose. It is not easy to reach that state, but we must be brought to it. If we are the Lord's servants, we must lie passive in his hands and know no will but his. Yet deep waters will have to be passed through before we reach this blessed experience.