Conscience was uttering bitter and humiliating truths to David. While his faithful subjects wondered at his sudden reverse of fortune, it was no mystery to the king. He had often had forebodings of an hour like this. He had wondered that God had so long borne with his sins, and had delayed the merited retribution. And now in his hurried and sorrowful flight, his feet bare, his royal robes changed for sackcloth, the lamentations of his followers awaking the echoes of the hills, he thought of his loved capital--of the place which had been the scene of his sin-- and as he remembered the goodness and long-suffering of God, he was not altogether without hope. He felt that the Lord would still deal with him in mercy.

Samvittigheden mindede David om bitre og ydmygende sandheder. Kongens trofaste undersåtter kunne ikke forstå, hvorfor hans skæbne var blevet forandret så pludselig, men det var ingen gåde for ham selv. Han havde ofte anet, at dette ville komme, og havde undret sig over, at Gud skånede ham så længe og udsatte den velfortjente straf for hans synder. Mens han bedrøvet fortsatte sin ilsomme flugt - han havde bare fødder, hans kongelige klæder var ombyttet med sæk, og hans tilhængeres klageudbrud gav genlyd i de omkringliggende høje - tænkte han på sin elskede hovedstad, det sted, hvor han havde begået sin synd, og idet han mindedes Guds godhed og langmodighed, indså han, at alt håb ikke var ude. Han havde en fornemmelse af, at Herren stadig ville være ham nådig.