David was on the way out. Literally and figuratively. He was being forced to flee Jerusalem because of the coup his own son had staged. But he was also on the way out as the king of Israel. The days of his reign had come to an abrupt and ignominious end. As he made his way out of the city, he was barefoot and in mourning. Gone were the trappings of his kingship. Now, he was just another citizen, submitting himself to the usurper to his throne, his own son, Absalom. In 2 Samuel 16:1-14, David will have yet another painful reminder of his dramatic fall from grace. On his way out of the city, he was accosted by a man, a relative of Saul, who saw David’s fall as just and well-deserved. David was simply getting what he deserved for having taken the crown from Saul. But David refused to allow this man’s words and actions to get to him. He was going to trust God. Regardless of the circumstances.