2 Samuel 15:19-23. David is fleeing Jerusalem after receiving a message that his son Absalom has turned much of Israel against him. David fears that Absalom will bring destruction on the whole city if David remains there, so he takes all of his household and leaves Jerusalem. Here, Ittai, the Gittite, who brought the message of Absalom's insurrection, makes to go with David, but David says "Why do you also go with us?... [Y]ou are a foreigner, and also an exile from your home. You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, seeing I go I know not where?" But Ittai insists on going with David: "wherever my Lord the king should be, whether for death or for life, they are also will your servant be." So Ittai and all his men and children go with David, and the people all weep as David and all with him leave the city.

David's son Absalom is in rebellion against David, it is a cold (for now) civil war. David shows how good a king he is here - he realizes Jerusalem and all of her people are in danger if he remains there, so he leaves. He is not proud, he does not stay and risk the lives of his people because he is the rightful king. He is trying to preserve lives and the peace as much as possible. He truly cares about his people and realizes that his power over them comes from God. David does not act as most earthly kings would here - he does not feel he has to stay and defend his position and his honor. He knows that God is with him, and he acts in a loving, responsible way, even though it means humbling himself.

Ittai is an interesting character. He is identified at first only as a messenger (in 2 Samuel 15:13) who comes to David with news of Absalom's rebellion. But when he decides to follow David, we get his name and more information. He's a foreigner, he has no required allegiance to David, but clearly, in the short time he has been with David (one day!) he has seen a king worth following and even dying for: "whether for death or for life."

Our character is tested in moments like David is having here. In the span of only a day, he learns of his son's rebellion against him and challenge of his kingship; decides, for the good of his people, to leave Jerusalem; and packs up and leaves, going who knows where. Essentially, as he says, he becomes a wanderer - a king in exile. If David had not spent his life trying to do God's will, he would not have had the character to make this decision as quickly as he did. Ittai clearly sees this and responds.

This is how we build the kingdom of God. We learn to live in his ways and in his love over the span of time. We seek his guidance at all times. Then, when we are tested, we will know to discern his will and react in the proper way, it will be ingrained in us. Even though David was not trying to influence Ittai, in fact he was surprised that Ittai was coming, he had a great influence on him. We often do not know how we affect others,. But we gain for God followers like Ittai when we live our lives in God's ways.