THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
Why did David prevent the priests and the assembly from accompanying him (2 Sam. 15:25-29)? As a righteous leader and prophet, the king understood the fate of those who assisted the unrighteous: they faced defeat, and the assembly was captured by outsiders. Aware of 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; look, I am,' then He will act for my good in His presence" (2 Sam. 15:25-26). In other words, he could not bear the burden of accusation, for he recognized the internal law condemning him with commands such as 'You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder,' which he had violated.
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When the Lawgiver purifies the vision of my soul, I will then behold its beauty. Yet, if He withdraws His protection entirely, He remains the Sovereign, and I am merely His servant, committed to His guidance. Thus, the holy man expressed his sorrow visibly, appearing as one who mourned, as he covered his head and walked barefoot; even the army wept alongside him. See further commentary on 2 Samuel 15:31-32.