Study Guide: 2 Samuel 15
*This study guide can be used in conjunction with the message preached on September 28, 2025 during the series Imperfect Heroes.
Pray
Lord, when I face betrayal or uncertainty like David, help me trust Your plan with humility and faith.
Read
2 Samuel 15
Observe
vv. 1–6 | Absalom steals the hearts of Israel
Absalom built a political campaign that was more about image than substance. He gathered chariots, horses, and fifty men to run before him—not for speed, but to look impressive. Unlike Samuel, who humbly walked the land as prophet and judge, Absalom paraded himself as a man of power. At the city gate, he greeted those seeking justice from the king. He sympathized with their troubles, flattered their cases, and suggested David’s government had failed them. He then hinted that if he were judge, they would find real justice. Absalom also staged himself as a “man of the people,” refusing bows and instead shaking hands and embracing others. In reality, he thought himself above the law and better than most. But his charm worked: people were impressed by his image, blind to his arrogance, and slowly gave him their loyalty. In this way, Absalom stole the hearts of Israel, proving that people often choose image over truth.
vv. 7–10 | Absalom plans his coup
After several years, Absalom asked David for permission to go to Hebron under the pretense of fulfilling a vow to the Lord. In reality, he was plotting to seize the throne. Using the language of spirituality, he masked his rebellion with religion, convincing even himself that God supported his cause. David unsuspectingly told him, “Go in peace,” words that tragically became the king’s last to his son. Once in Hebron, Absalom spread messengers throughout Israel, declaring himself king when the trumpet sounded. He counted on the people seeing this as a natural succession rather than treason.
vv. 11–12 | Absalom builds legitimacy
To give weight to his movement, Absalom invited two hundred men from Jerusalem who had no idea of his plot. Their silent presence gave the appearance of support. Even worse, Absalom persuaded Ahithophel—David’s trusted counselor and Bathsheba’s grandfather—to defect. This betrayal deeply wounded David, who later wrote about it in Psalm 41. Still, Absalom cloaked his rebellion with sacrifices, presenting himself as religious while scheming in pride. His conspiracy gained momentum, attracting more followers as people were drawn in by the appearance of strength and the illusion of God’s blessing.
vv. 13–18 | David flees Jerusalem
When David heard that Israel’s loyalty had shifted to Absalom, he quickly decided to leave the city to spare it from destruction. Though Absalom was not yet officially king, the text continues to call David “the king,” affirming his rightful place. He left behind ten concubines to care for the palace, while his loyal guards—the Cherethites, Pelethites, and Gittites—stood with him. Remarkably, many of these were foreigners who had been faithful to David from his days of hardship. As they marched past him, David’s heart broke. He later captured his grief in psalms, describing his fear, anguish, and yet his renewed trust in God as his shield and deliverer.
vv. 19–23 | Ittai’s loyalty
Among those leaving was Ittai the Gittite, a newcomer and foreigner who had only recently joined David. David urged him to stay in Jerusalem, calling Absalom “the king” in an act of surrender to God’s will. But Ittai declared his unwavering loyalty to David, vowing to follow him in life or death. This rare devotion showed the depth of his character: loyalty tested by cost, given voluntarily, and expressed publicly. David allowed him to join, and together with his family and men, Ittai crossed into the wilderness. Their departure was marked by tears from all who followed.
vv. 24–26 | David entrusts himself to God
The priests and Levites also followed, carrying the ark of the covenant. But David ordered them to return the ark to Jerusalem, showing he trusted not in a sacred object but in God Himself. Humbly, David surrendered to the Lord’s will: if God wanted him restored, he would return; if not, he was ready to accept God’s judgment. This shows David’s chastened heart—submitting not passively, but actively, to whatever God deemed best.
vv. 27–29 | Priests sent back as spies
David then instructed Zadok the priest and his son, along with Abiathar and his son, to remain in Jerusalem. As seers, they could provide valuable insight and serve as informants. Through their reports, David hoped to stay connected to events in the city while he waited in the wilderness.
Vs. 30 | David mourns on the Mount of Olives
As David climbed the Mount of Olives, he wept, covering his head and walking barefoot—symbols of grief and repentance. His sorrow wasn’t just over the consequences of sin but over the sin itself and its devastating ripple effect. This echoes the path Jesus later took to Gethsemane, though Jesus bore not His own sin but ours. David’s tears reflected a heart broken, humbled, and shaped by grace.
vv. 31–37 | Ahithophel’s betrayal and Hushai’s mission
When David learned that Ahithophel had joined Absalom, he immediately prayed, asking God to turn his counsel into foolishness. At the mountain’s peak, David worshiped God despite his anguish, proving that worship is possible even in crisis. There he met Hushai, a loyal friend. David sent him back to Jerusalem to act as a spy and counteract Ahithophel’s influence. As Absalom entered Jerusalem in arrogance, David left it in humility, and years later Jesus would enter it in perfect obedience as the true King.
Credit: Guzik, David. “2 Samuel 15 - Absalom’s Rebellion.” Enduring Word, n.d., https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-samuel-15.
Apply
1. Guard your heart against appearances.
Absalom’s charm, image, and empty promises won people over, but it was a deception. We must be careful not to be swayed by surface appearances—whether in leaders, opportunities, or even relationships—and instead seek God’s truth beneath the image.
2. Loyalty is revealed in hard times.
When David fled, many abandoned him, but men like Ittai and Hushai proved their devotion when it cost them something. True loyalty to God, family, and friends shows itself not in comfort but in sacrifice.
3. Trust God’s will above your own.
David returned the ark and surrendered his future into God’s hands, choosing submission over control. We too must learn to lay down our plans, entrusting our outcomes to God’s wisdom, even when the road ahead is painful or uncertain.
Pray (ACTS)
What is the ACTS prayer model?
A - Praise God as the true King whose wisdom and power are greater than all human schemes.
C - Confess a time when you trusted in appearances or tried to control outcomes instead of surrendering to His will.
T - Thank God for His faithfulness that remains steady when people fail or circumstances change.
S - Ask God to help you walk in loyalty, humility, and trust.
DISCUSS
Questions for personal reflection, spiritual insight, or group interaction.
Why do you think people were so easily drawn to Absalom’s charm and promises, and what does this teach us about the danger of judging by appearances?
In what ways do we sometimes prefer “image” over “truth” in our own culture or personal lives?
Absalom used religious language and sacrifices to cover his rebellion. How can we guard against using spiritual words or rituals to hide selfish motives?
David fled Jerusalem to protect the city, even though it meant personal loss. What does this reveal about servant leadership?
Who in this chapter surprises you most by their loyalty (Ittai, Zadok, or Hushai), and why?
When has someone’s loyalty to you encouraged you during a hard season?
How does Ittai’s statement of devotion challenge you in your own commitment to God and others?
David sent the ark back to Jerusalem, showing he trusted God’s presence more than a symbol. What “symbols” are we tempted to rely on instead of God Himself?
David prayed that God would frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel. What does this teach us about the importance of prayer when facing betrayal or opposition?
How does David’s weeping on the Mount of Olives point us forward to Jesus in Gethsemane?
What does David’s worship “at the top of the mountain” in the middle of crisis teach us about responding to trials?
Which example from this chapter—Absalom’s deception, Ittai’s loyalty, David’s surrender, or Hushai’s faithfulness—speaks most to your current walk with God, and why?
Resources for Further Study of 2 Samuel