2 Samuel 15:25 kjv
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
2 Samuel 15:25 nkjv
Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.
2 Samuel 15:25 niv
Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again.
2 Samuel 15:25 esv
Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place.
2 Samuel 15:25 nlt
Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. "If the LORD sees fit," David said, "he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again.
2 Samuel 15 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:8 | "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." | Finding divine favor for deliverance. |
| Ex 33:17 | "The LORD said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing... because you have found favor...'" | God acting due to finding favor. |
| Num 10:35-36 | "Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, 'Arise, O LORD...'" | The Ark symbolizing God's presence and power. |
| Deut 31:6 | "Be strong and courageous... the LORD your God goes with you..." | Trust in God's accompanying presence. |
| Ruth 2:13 | "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord..." | Expressing a desire for human/divine favor. |
| 1 Sam 4:21-22 | "...the glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." | The Ark's significance as God's glory. |
| 2 Sam 7:29 | "...with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever." | David's reliance on God's blessing/favor. |
| 1 Chr 13:13 | "And David was afraid of God that day and said, 'How can the ark of God come to me?'" | Reverence for the Ark and God's holiness. |
| Ps 23:4 | "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." | Trust in God's presence amidst crisis. |
| Ps 27:4 | "One thing I ask of the LORD, this I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD..." | David's desire for God's dwelling place. |
| Ps 42:2 | "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" | Longing for God's presence. |
| Ps 84:11 | "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor." | God as the source of favor. |
| Ps 132:8 | "Arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might." | The Ark's connection to God's presence. |
| Pro 3:4 | "So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man." | Favor from God and man. |
| Isa 57:15 | "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up... 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit...'" | God's dwelling place not limited to physical structures. |
| Jer 29:14 | "I will be found by you... and I will restore your fortunes and gather you..." | God promising restoration to His people. |
| Ezek 39:27 | "When I have brought them back from the peoples... I will manifest my holiness among them." | Divine initiative in restoring His people. |
| Mt 6:10 | "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." | Submitting to God's will. |
| Acts 7:48-49 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands..." | God's transcendent nature, His true dwelling. |
| Acts 21:14 | "When he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, 'Let the will of the Lord be done.'" | Accepting God's sovereign will. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." | God's work for good in all circumstances. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you..." | Humility leading to God's exaltation. |
2 Samuel 15 verses
2 Samuel 15 25 Meaning
2 Samuel 15:25 expresses King David's deep submission to God's sovereign will amidst the crisis of Absalom's rebellion. He instructs the priests to return the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, signifying his understanding that God's presence should remain in its proper dwelling. David articulates a profound dependence on divine favor for his restoration, declaring that if he finds grace in the Lord's sight, God Himself will bring him back to witness both the Ark and its sacred abode. This reveals David's trust that God, not human strategy, dictates his destiny.
2 Samuel 15 25 Context
2 Samuel 15:25 occurs at a pivotal moment in David's life, during Absalom's rebellion. David, forced to flee Jerusalem due to his son's betrayal, is evacuating the city with his loyal followers. As they cross the Kidron Valley, Zadok the priest and the Levites bring the Ark of the Covenant, intending for it to accompany David. This verse records David's instruction to return the Ark to Jerusalem. David understands that the Ark represents God's dwelling and presence; removing it from its central place would imply God's departure from His city and people. By sending it back, David demonstrates an act of profound humility, trust, and submission to God's will, placing the Lord's rightful abode and sovereignty above his personal safety or political strategy. He essentially states that if his return is God's will, then God will bring it about, allowing him to see the Ark and His dwelling place again.
2 Samuel 15 25 Word analysis
- Then the king said: Signifies a moment of decisive instruction from David, exercising his authority even in his distress. It emphasizes his role as the head of the kingdom and his spiritual understanding as Israel's leader, albeit a humbled one.
- to Zadok: Addresses Zadok, the faithful high priest (along with Abiathar, though Zadok is highlighted here). This interaction underscores the intertwined roles of kingship and priesthood in ancient Israel, and David's reliance on spiritual counsel and the proper handling of sacred objects.
- Carry the ark of God back: This command is critical. It refers to the אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים (Arōn ha'Elohim), the Ark of the Covenant, Israel's most sacred object, representing God's throne and presence. Carrying it back to Jerusalem underscores its rightful place as the center of worship and divine manifestation. This also prevented the Ark from becoming a political symbol or a mere good luck charm in exile.
- into the city: Refers to Jerusalem, which David had established as the capital and religious center. Its return signifies that Jerusalem remained the city chosen by God for His dwelling, despite the current political turmoil and David's flight.
- If I find favor: Hebrew: אִם־אֶמְצָא־חֵן (im em-tsa' chen), literally "if I find grace/favor." This is a conditional statement that reflects David's humility and complete dependence on God's mercy and good pleasure, rather than his own power, merit, or right to the throne. It removes any humanistic claim and places his destiny solely in God's hands.
- in the eyes of the LORD: Hebrew: בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה (b'einei Yahweh). This anthropomorphic expression emphasizes God's direct, personal perception and assessment of David. Yahweh (YHWH) is God's covenant name, signifying His faithfulness to His promises. To find "favor in His eyes" means to be the object of His positive disposition and active goodwill.
- he will bring me back: This attributes the future outcome—David's return to Jerusalem and his throne—directly to God's sovereign action. It's a statement of faith that God has the power and the will to reverse David's circumstances if it aligns with His purpose.
- and let me see both it: David's earnest desire is not merely to reclaim his throne but to reunite with the Ark, signifying his restored relationship and access to God's presence.
- and his dwelling place: Hebrew: וּמְעוֹנוֹ (u'm'onoh). Refers to the sacred place where God manifested His presence – at this time, likely the tabernacle or tent in Jerusalem where the Ark resided. It embodies David's yearning for restored communion and worship in the designated place of God's manifest presence. It points to his deep spiritual longing.
2 Samuel 15 25 Bonus section
This verse beautifully illustrates the concept of genuine submission to divine will. David's choice highlights that true faith does not attempt to force God's hand or use sacred objects superstitiously. By sending the Ark back, he acknowledges that God is not confined to a portable box, nor is His favor a magical charm; rather, His presence and will are supreme. This echoes later New Testament principles that God desires a spirit of truth and humility over external ritual (Jn 4:23-24). David's actions here establish him not only as a great king but as a man whose heart, though flawed, remained ultimately inclined toward worship and dependence on the living God, even when everything seemed lost. It served as an important lesson for both his contemporary audience and future generations on handling crises with spiritual discernment and humility.
2 Samuel 15 25 Commentary
2 Samuel 15:25 is a testament to King David's profound spiritual maturity and trust in God's sovereignty. Amidst the gravest threat to his kingship—his own son leading a rebellion—David's primary concern is for the proper reverence and placement of the Ark of God. By ordering its return to Jerusalem, David demonstrates his understanding that God is not merely a political ally to be wielded for advantage but the sovereign Lord whose dwelling should be respected regardless of his personal distress.
His conditional statement, "If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back," is a pivotal expression of humble submission. It reveals that David does not demand restoration based on his anointing or past faithfulness but relies entirely on God's unmerited favor (חֵן - chen). This stance stands in stark contrast to the common pagan notion that gods could be manipulated. Instead, David expresses acceptance of whatever God wills, even exile or death, showing that his ultimate hope lies in God's character and plan, not in the symbol of the Ark or his own strategic maneuvering. The phrase "dwelling place" refers not just to a physical structure but to the manifest presence of God, emphasizing David's deep longing for restored spiritual communion above all else. This humility ultimately reflects a heart devoted to God's will, making him a model for believers facing adversity to surrender outcomes to divine providence.