THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
Why did David prevent the priests and the community from following him (2 Sam. 15:25-29)? As a righteous leader and a prophet, the king understood the fate of those who had gone to aid the unrighteous: they were defeated, and the community was taken captive by foreign powers. Aware of this, he instructed the priest Zadok, saying, "Return the ark of God to the city, allowing it to remain in its place; if I find favor in the sight of the Lord, He may bring me back and I will see the ark and its beauty; but if He says, ‘I do not favor you; behold, I am, that He will bring me harm in His eyes’" (2 Sam. 15:25-26).
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In essence, he recognized that he could not bring an accuser along, as he felt the weight of the law within him declaring, "You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder," acknowledging that he had violated these commandments. When the Lawgiver purifies the gaze of my spirit, then I will truly perceive its glory. However, if He withdraws His care completely from me, then He is the sovereign, and I am but His servant, submitting to His guidance. Thus, the holy man spoke with tears, appearing as one in mourning, for he covered his head and walked barefoot; the troops also mourned alongside him. For further commentary, see 2 Samuel 15:31-32.