Our summer series for the months of July & August is Honorable Mentions. The dictionary defines Honorable Mention as: "An award or recognition given to someone or something that does not make it to a higher standing but is worth mentioning in an honorable way."

We are looking at a number of lesser known characters in the Old Testament.
Each study takes an in-depth look at someone in the Bible and their life story. We've examined their history and background along with key events in their life. We've identified their personal strengths. We've gained lessons from their lives that we can apply to our own life.

Have you ever had someone surprise you? By this we mean that they were not the person you thought they were.
We often make snap decisions regarding people. Sometimes these are right on, but a lot of times we misread or misunderstand people.
Who has entered your life like that kind of person?

This morning our message is found in 2 Samuel 15.
To get a true perspective of the story, you would want to read from chapter 13 through 19 as this will give you the context of the story.

-David is the King of Israel.
-He's had a string of successes and a few glaring mistakes and sins.
-He's known as a "man after God's own heart" which speaks of his desire to know and honor God.
-In 2 Samuel 13 we learn that David's son Amnon forced himself upon his half-sister, Tamar. Tamar's brother, Absalom, was outraged and plotted to have Amnon murdered. After doing so, Absalom fled and spent 3 years in exile.
-David arranged for Absalom to return home but he and King David did not see each other for 2 years until a break-through when David attempted to mend their relationship.
-During all of this a root of bitterness grew in Absalom's heart and he began to makes plans to overthrow his father and his kingdom.
-Hearing of their plans, David and a small band of loyal followers fled the captial city of Jerusalem for the Wilderness.

This is where we come to our text in 2 Samuel 15:13-23.

As David left he headed eastward down from Jerusalem. He will live as an outcast, hunted by his son, just as he was hunted by Saul the former king. There are several groups of people with him including pagan people who had chosen to believe in the one true God. A group of 600 is referred to as the Gittites, those from the city of Gath.
David had fled to Gath several times when he was fleeing from Saul so he developed relationships that influenced the Gittites to seek God (1 Samuel 17-20)

There is a man called Ittai who is the leader of this band of men, the Gittites. David attempted to talk them out of following him but Ittai makes a bold decision and a statement of faith in verse 21.
Absalom is a picture of a prideful, arrogant, and conniving individual who only wanted the rewards of the kingdom without wanting a relationship with the king.
Ittai is a picture of a selfless and committed person who only want to serve the king and sustain the kingdom.
Ittai didn't look like much in the beginning, but grew into a faithful friend.

A British newspaper ran a contest asking for the definition of a friend. The winning entry was this thought: "A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world goes out." That is what Ittai did for David.
There are some great lessons we can learn from the story of Ittai and David.
Ittai was a faithful friend who stood by David as the world did its worst to harm him.
1. Do you have an Ittai and some Gittites in your life who will stand by and for you?
2. Do you act like an Ittai to the David's in your life?
3. Do you strive to be like Ittai and the Gittites who seek to know the King rather than the benefits of the Kingdom?

Here are a few lessons of what it means to be a faithful friend like Ittai:

1. LISTENING to the heart and mind of those who we care about.
v. 13-14

2. STANDING-UP for the King, even when he is without a crown.
v. 15-16

3. KNOWING who you are hitching your wagon to.
v. 17

4. COMMITTING yourself to stand for what is right.
v.18

5. EVALUATING the cost of our decisions.
v. 19-20

6. VERBALIZING our support and trusting in the Lord.
v. 21

7. GOING through the valley and wilderness alongside others.
v. 22-23

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

Sunday, July 25 - Wyatt Erb
Monday, July 26 - Mike & Jane Norris
Tuesday, July 27 - Kim Hansen
Wednesday, July 28 - Rylee Zalewski
Thursday, July 29 - Skip VanDuser, Mike Norris