In 2 Samuel 17, we will learn how Absalom is getting more impatient by the minute about being kind. Therefore, he was considering going to war against his father David, in order to finally become king. However, before this could take place he needed counsel from Ahithophel, what was David’s former counsel. Which 2“Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.” (2 Samuel 17:1-4) Now, did Absalom go forward with this plan? The answer is no. For David had prayed in chapter 15 that what Ahithophel would tell his son would become foolishness, and that is exactly what took place. Here is that prayer and what happened next, 1“O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.” (2 Samuel 15:31,32) It was right after Ahithophel spoke to David, 2“then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.” (2 Samuel 17:5) So Hushai is given the opportunity to speak. We will now see what he said and how it was much more planned out than Ahithophel’s plan. It is amazing how God stepped in and sent Hushai, who was David’s friend, to give counsel to Absalom, his son.
It is written that 2“Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men. Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.” (2 Samuel 17:7-13) And how did this go over with Absalamon? Very well indeed. It says that 2“Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. (2 Samuel 17:14) So God was at work here for sure. He heard David’s prayer and send Hushai to his son, in order to thwart or prevent the plans of the evil one.
It was because God allowed Hushai to speak out His counsel unto Absalom, that what Ahithophel said became foolishness. They even thought that what he said would bring evil upon Absalom, not good. So this fulfilled David’s prayer. It is even said that Ahithophel was so upset and fearful that he took his own life. It says that 2“when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.” (2 Samuel 17:23) Also, Hushai was then able to warn David of the events to come. “Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.” (2 Samuel 17:15,16) So praise be to God that He did answer David’s prayers, and didn’t allow the kingdom to be taken from him wrongfully. We will learn later on how Absalom’s plans to become king himself was very selfish and self-seeking, which ended in his own death. And until we get to that chapter, let us learn from the events that took place here. For one, never give up on God, but pour out your heart to Him in prayer. He is listening to everything that goes on in our lives and wants to step in and help us, but we must be willing to give him a chance. He will send people like Hushai to deflect the plans of the evil one in our lives, that we may be under His protection. Keep seeking the Lord daily through reading the Bible, praying often, and doing what God commands.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, please help people understand the need to pray. You have told us that all we need to do is knock and You will open the door to us. You are not hiding Your face from us, but only want to sup with us. If we could just have ears to hear, You would give us understanding. I know this to be true and wish that more people would desire to know You personally. There is a difference between saying a prayer that we have recited and say time and again than a heartfelt prayer, where we will really want to know You and have answers to our problems. I’ve gone down the road of saying quick prayers and I was never strong in the faith. I would continually fall into sexual sin and not have a way of it. Therefore, pornography took over my life, and I would be left trying to mark days when I haven’t looked at it, but then be burdened because I fell once again. You know these times Lord, but also that once I put my trust in You, then all these burdens washed away. You took my sins that were heavy upon me and put them upon Your own shoulders to carry. I am so grateful to know that You paid the price for my sins, that I don’t have to worry about them anymore. You heard my confessions and healed my broken heart. I had no way of escaping the evil lifestyle I was in, but You gave me a way of it. Thank You, Lord. I knocked and You answered. I may not be perfect in Your eyes, and far from that, but I know now that seeking You daily is more important than anything else. Without You I am nothing, but with You I am strong. I am able to deflect the temptations of the enemy and come out victorious with you by my side. I love You, Jesus. You are my Savior and the rock upon which I stand. Give me wisdom and others, as they start coming to You more often in prayer. I know that You will help them, as You have continued to help me over the years. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.