EXTRAORDINARY LOYALTY
Introduction: Somewhere in the middle of Western Road Christian Cemetery, there is a rather unusual statue among the thousands of gravestones and hundreds of statues. It is not the statue of a man or woman or angel, not even of Jesus or Mary or saint… but of a dog. How many of you have seen it?
The story goes that one of the persons buried there had a dog which was very loyal to its master. When the master died, the dog followed the funeral procession to the grave and stayed there. It refused to go home until it died there. The family built a statue next to the master – in memory of that dog, that demonstrated such unusual/extraordinary loyalty.
What a heart warming story! No wonder when we humans think of the quality of faithfulness, we think of a dog. Why not men?
Is it because we humans have become too sophisticated to be so loyal to anyone?
Only something as simple as a dog would be that loyal/faithful – so we have some people whose names mean dog – eg. Caleb.
There is another story of extraordinary loyalty that is even more heartwarming – than the story of the dog in the Western Road Cemetery. This story is found in the book of books, the Bible – God’s word/revelation to us today and for all time.
This story is found in 2 Sam 15:13-23 (focus on v.19-23).
The author of 2 Samuel used the political crisis in King David’s life to highlight the extraordinary loyalty of Ittai the Gittite.
The word ‘crisis’ in the Chinese language is composed of 2 characters – one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.
Crisis is an opportunity for us to demonstrate the virtue of extraordinary loyalty.
What can we learn about extraordinary loyalty from our text today?
Our text today reveals the circumstances under which extraordinary loyalty is demonstrated.
Please repeat as I try to etch the outline in your mind – it’s as easy as ABC:
Firstly – Extraordinary loyalty is demonstrated when there is no Allegiance owed – found in v.19.
Secondly – Extraordinary loyalty is demonstrated when there is no Benefit promised – found in v.20.
Thirdly – Extraordinary loyalty is demonstrated when there are no Conditions attached – found in v.21.
Repeat all three together. Why do I say it’s extraordinary? Beyond what is usual and ordinary. Remarkable.
Under what circumstances is such extraordinary loyalty demonstrated loyalty demonstrated?
I. Outstanding loyalty is demonstrated when there is NO ALLEGIANCE OWED. – v.19.
Allegiance means duty, support, loyalty due to a ruler or government.
A. What was the crisis that gave rise to such a response of extraordinary loyalty?
Due to King David’s many marriages – he had many sons. Absalom was his 3rd son from a foreign mother, Maacah, daughter of the king of Gershur, a city in Syria. He was a very handsome man who murdered his half-brother for raping his sister Tamor. He fled to his mother’s hometown and was exiled.
After 3 years, he was allowed to return with the help of Joab, David’s general.
Instead of repaying his father’s generosity in pardoning him, he began right away to steal the people’s hearts – pretending to champion their rights and promising to give them justice if he was given the power.
Several years later, Absalom decided that the time was right for him to stage a coup. He managed to persuade some of the people to support him and on the pretext of going to fulfil a vow in Hebron – the highest city in Israel, 3,040 ft above sea level. There he would launch his claim to be king. Afterall, Hebron was where his father David was first anointed king over Judah and 2 years later, king over all of Israel. Hebron remained King David’s capital for 7½ years.
B. v.12 – The conspiracy grew strong when Absalom managed to get the support of Ahistophel – David’s most senior and trusted advisor, who was related to Bathsheba. Ahistophel was a very astute man, very sharp.
Soon it seemed that a majority of the people were on Absalom’s side. David was a great king with a shepherd’s heart, with selfless concern for his subjects even when he was under great personal stress.
Even though he was the rightful king, and stood an even chance of defending Jerusalem and defeating his son, he was not willing to sacrifice his subjects in a civil war when the majority of the innocent people would be caught in the middle and be killed.
He chose to sacrifice his rightful position to spare his people of certain bloodshed.
He chose to flee Jerusalem, the seat of power.
His attitude in v.25 – 26…. left his destiny in the hands of God, is a sharp contrast with those who hang on to their positions, insist on their rights at the expense of the common people who don’t want to get involved.
C. As David’s family and servants left Jerusalem in haste, David paused at the outskirts of the city – to review his loyal troops who chose to stay with him.
These soldiers had stuck with him over many years, and their support was very precious in this emergency. Among the last to file past David was one by the name of Ittai, from Gath, a Philistine city.
David asked Ittai, “Of all the people, why are you also going with us into exile? You are a foreigner, not a Jew.”
Ittai was an exile; he was already exiled from his hometown and now he’s going into exile again???
Actually Ittai was a Philistine mercenary, a soldier of fortune. We still have them today in Papua New Guinea, Africa…
As a professional mercenary, he could fight for any king who paid him the highest wages. So he was under no obligations to continue serving King David especially after David officially released him from any obligations/allegiance. v.20 – “…return, mercy and truth be with you…”
Furthermore Ittai was a foreigner – for that reason he was entrusted with the command of David’s personal bodyguards.
Foreigners like the gurkhas were often used in the ancient world by kings because they were usually not affected by local politics.
As a foreign mercenary, he could have claimed to be disinterested with the internal politics of Israel – “I’ll serve whoever is the new king as long as I’m paid my salary.”
Therefore Ittai owed David nothing at all – but now he is willing to risk everything for him.
In sharp contrast, although Absalom owed David his very life (he had received royal pardon), yet Absalom plotted against David.
D. Loyalty as a good, old fashioned virtue seems to be terribly lacking in people today.
In the workforce, employees job-hop for a few ringgit more.
In the marketplace, business alliance shift when you can no longer return the favour you used to.
In churches, Christians change churches when it becomes not so convenient anymore – even when there are no serious problems – and some even convert to other religions for economic advantages.
Among countries when citizens change citizenship for better priviledges/welfare.
Just ask employers and they tell you. Many employees’ attitude in today’s full employment environment are “I owe my boss nothing. He owes me everything. I’m doing him a favour by working for him. I could very well work for someone else. Afterall, I’m not related to him.” - job-hopping.
Are employees the only ones to blame? When you sow loyalty, you reap loyalty. Some of the employers who complain about their employees’ disloyalty would have no hesitation at all to lay off workers in recession – “employer’s market”.
II. Extraordinary loyalty is demonstrated when there are NO BENEFITS PROMISED – v.20.
“Should I make you wonder up and down with us today, since I don’t even know where I’m going? - no promises/assurance of reward at all.
A. “I’m going into political exile” - I won’t be king anymore. Therefore I can’t promise you any rewards of any kind.”
Why don’t you go back and serve the new king. You don’t have to get involved in this political struggle/mess. You don’t have to suffer in exile with me. I won’t be able to pay you your salary. You’re under no obligation to me. Go back to serve the new king. He will reward you handsomely.”
David had absolutely nothing to offer ittai. He had no future prospect – bleak.
Why should Ittai risk his future career betting on the wrong horse? He should support the one who’s staying in power, defending him and not the one who’s giving up and running away.
Why risk getting killed for a “political has-been”?
Most people like to be associated with a rising star, not a falling star!
B. There are some people in this world who sincerely believe that every man has a price. i.e. Every man can be bought if the price is right.
I once heard of a man who sold his wife for a million ringgit. I wonder how much he would sell his life for?
Anyone can be loyal, when the rewards are plentiful – it is guaranteed not difficult. What is the price for your loyalty?
As a spouse? – only when your needs are met?
As an employee? - switch job for a few ringgit more?
Do you work hard for your boss or company only when the benefits are assured?
Employers cannot help but notice that rare individual who chooses to be loyal at all times – not just when it benefits him or when it’s convenient – bonus or no bonus!
This person is special/different and can be trusted rain or shine because loyalty is an intrinsic quality – he could not help but be loyal because loyalty is his nature, characterised in every fibre of his being.
C. Ittai had nothing to gain by staying loyal to David.
He had everything to lose. David was not in any position to promise any rewards – only hardship.
But Ittai proved that he was not an opportunist and he was rewarded later for his outstanding loyalty although he was not expecting it. He was made commander of 1/3 of David’s troops in a fight against Absalom.
Sometimes it’s like that – our firefighters will be given extra, beyond overseas allowance. They deserve it because they risk their health and lives for you and me. If a foreigner who had no benefits promised/assured could be that loyal, surely you and I, should be more loyal to our families, employers and nation.
III. Extraordinary loyalty is demonstrated when there are NO CONDITIONS ATTACHED. – v.21
A. We have been brought up to believe – that in life nothing is free. There is no free lunch. You must earn to deserve everything.
Unfortunately this philosophy creeps into our personal relationships where we become suspicious when people treat us better than we deserve. There must be some strings attached, a hidden motive. We’re suspicious of others’ motives even when we’re in trouble, really needing help.
B. It was probably the darkest moment in David’s life. In these dark moments, the outstanding loyalty of Ittai shone as a bright light of hope in the gloomy sky of despair.
What a refreshing loyalty. It was totally unexpected.
David’s own flesh and blood was willing to kill him.
Whereas here a paid servant was willing to die for him.
He was not the first person to swear such undying loyalty.
Many years before him, another foreigner, David’s great grandmother by the name of Ruth did the same to Naomi, her mother-in-law – Ruth 1:16, 17:
“Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you stay, I will stay.
Your people shall be my people, and your god, my god.
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.
The LORD do so to me and more also. If anything but death parts you and me.
Wow!! Sounds like Christian marriage vows!
Ittai, with a double oath and most solemnly swore undying loyalty. He did not say, “Well, David, at some point of time, I will review…” But he displayed a self-sacrificing loyalty to share David’s fate, good or bad. He may even have died in the battle with Absalom because he was never mentioned again.
When is loyalty most important? Good times or bad times? Actually both. If you can’t be loyal in good times, what makes you think you can be loyal in bad times?
Where is loyalty needed most?
In the home – husbands and wives to each other – passionate loyalty.
In the church – in good times when everything is going well – when there are no problems, when morale is high.
In bad times, when God allows a trial to test the people.
Will I still be loyal? Or go where there is no trouble? (Complain outside)
When your church needs you most? When it is going through difficulties.
May our attitude be, “This is my church. God led me here and He hasn’t told me to leave. Therefore I’ll give my best, to my church I’ll give my time, talents, finances.
In the workplace – when times are good and when your company is going through financial difficulties.
In my country – we need to be proud to be Malaysians – not just in boon times but also during economic haze. We should stand behind our leaders (they’re only human) and pray…
It’s not the time to compare with other nations and complain – lest we compound the problems.
Rather it’s time to compile our blessings we still have, compose ourselves, compress our expectations and comply with our leaders’ exhortations.
Looking back, in my first pastorate, 11 years ago, we received 4 invitations to pastor bigger churches – 3 in the Klang valley. God didn’t say it’s time to go.
3 out of 4 pastors more or less forced to resign due to serious problems. God spared me because I was loyal.
Crisis is a God-given opportunity for us to demonstrate the virtue of extraordinary loyalty.
When we choose to remain loyal, even when
there is no allegiance owed,
there are no benefits promised and when
there are no conditions attached.
Conclusion: Even as these new members have pledged their loyalty to Christ and His church in response to His passionate loyalty to them, let us also renew our loyalty/commitment to God, family, church, nation. How many will say yes?
You know who your true friends really are when you are down, in a crisis.
Those who would remain loyal to you when they owe you nothing.
Those who can receive no benefit from you.
Those who attach no conditions.
These are not fair weather friends.
When you have such friends, you are truly rich.
And you do have such a friend. He’s a friend who sticks closer than a brother. His name is Jesus.
He owed you nothing, you owe Him everything.
He could receive no benefit from you, you can receive benefits this life and beyond.
He loved you with a passionate/undying love and died for your sins on the cross.
He promises to never leave you and to take you to heaven.
Have you been betrayed? Hurt, because you trusted someone so much, let you down?
You feel you can’t trust anyone anymore?
Have you received Jesus as your friend? Saviour and Lord?
If not let me pray for you. Let us bow our heads in prayer…
