THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
Why did David prevent the priests and the assembly from accompanying him (2 Sam. 15:25-29)? As a faithful servant of God and a prophet, the king was aware of the fate that befell the congregation taken to assist the unruly: they faced oppression, and the assembly was carried off by their captors. Understanding this, he instructed the priest Zadok: “Return the ark of God to the city and let it remain there; if I find favor in the sight of the Lord, He will bring me back, and I will see the ark and its glory; but if He says, ‘I have not favored you; behold, I am,’ then He will deal with me in accordance with His will” (2 Sam. 15:25-26).
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In other words, I cannot bring the burden of guilt with me; I am aware of the conscience within me that condemns my actions, reminding me, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill,’ and I have violated both commands. When the Lawgiver clears the vision of my spirit, I will be able to behold its beauty. However, if He entirely withdraws His support from me, He remains the Sovereign, and I remain the servant, yielded to His corrections. Thus the man of God spoke with deep sorrow, presenting himself as one in mourning, for he covered his head and walked in humility, while the troops joined him in his grief. See further commentary on 2 Samuel 15:31-32.