Read: 2 Samuel 16:15 – 17:29
The story of Absalom’s treason
continues, and in these chapters we see the results of David’s prayer that God
would make foolish the council of Ahithophel. Hushai, whom David sent
undercover to thwart Ahithophel’s ideas, is surprisingly accepted by Absalom.
In these first verses, we see the specific words of Nathan, the prophet, come
to life. Through Nathan, God said that what David did in private would be done for
all to see: an enemy from within his own household would assault his wives in
public. (2 Sam 12:11-12) And at the council of Ahithophel, this is exactly what
Absalom does. He takes over the palace at Jerusalem and lies with the
concubines his father left behind to watch over the house. Ironically, this
happens on the roof of the palace –possibly the exact same place where David
allowed his lustful eyes to rest upon Bathsheba. It seems like an odd thing for
Absalom to do, but as Ahithophel said, it showed the people that Absalom was
doing his own thing and was claiming his father’s throne – and everything else
– as his own.
After this, they start
discussing military strategy. Absalom is cold-hearted. He views his father as
nothing more than an enemy to be conquered. He is presented with two pieces of
advice, one from Ahithophel and the other from Hushai. Ahithophel’s advice:
attack immediately while the king and his people are still weary, kill only the
king and bring the rest back to Jerusalem. Hushai’s advice: wait, then lead the
people into battle and wipe out David and all of his followers. Hushai plays to
Absalom’s ego. He tells Absalom to gather and lead the army himself and not to
sit back while others attack. Absalom likes this. Of course, Hushai is on
undercover assignment from King David. With his advice, he hopes to buy David
time to prepare for an attack. Hushai is sent out of the room and, not knowing
which strategy Absalom will choose, sends two servants to tell David the two
possible outcomes so that he can at least be prepared for something. Meanwhile,
God does something amazing: Absalom goes with Hushai’s advice. This is to be
lauded as an act of God. The author made a specific note to tell us in 2 Samuel
16:23 that Ahithophel’s council was believed to be like the word of God itself,
so for Absalom to choose Hushai’s advice is entirely miraculous. In his defeat
and discouragement of the previous chapter, David cried out for God to make
foolish the council of Ahithophel. And that is exactly what God did.
There are two important things
we can take from this portion of the Absalom story. First is this: just because
someone uses the name of the Lord does not mean that they are working in alignment
with Him. Ahithophel was known to be a counsellor of godly wisdom. However, the
way that he abandons David shows foolishness and tarnished character.
Frequently throughout the reign of the kings in Israel and Judah, we meet kings
who claimed to follow Yahweh, yet whose actions were pagan. These kings
“worshiped” Yahweh while at the same time sold themselves to idols, sacrificed
their children to foreign gods and engaged in every sort of sexual perversion.
Their worship of Yahweh was drowned out by their idolatry. And so we learn that
we must walk through life with wisdom and discernment. We must remain
steadfastly in God’s Word and keep our hearts tied to one Master. Then we will
know whether someone who comes “in the name of the Lord” is truly acting in
alignment with God.
And a second point we can take
from this story is one about the miraculous. God works in His own way. He often
tends to act on the very borderline of practical and mystical, reasonable and
inexplicable. We see that here. There is no parting of waters, no miraculous
healing, no resurrection – yet that Absalom would take Hushai’s advice over
Ahithophel’s is an equally miraculous event! God is working behind the scenes,
using man to put His good plans into effect. We see this in the book of Esther.
God is not even mentioned in the book and yet it is HE who saves the Jews
THROUGH Esther’s obedience. This is no less of a miracle than the parting of
the Red Sea! We see this today when people are healed from sickness and
disease. Sure, it could be explained as a doctor’s remedy or skill, but God is
as much behind the healing as He was behind the resurrection of Christ! Or when
we have lost something and pray that God would help us find it and then we
remember where we put it – this is God at work! A skeptic will attempt to
explain away even the most supernatural event. As Christians, we must look for
the hand of God around us. We must ask God to open our eyes to what He is doing.
He will use people and nature to accomplish His plans. Why wouldn’t He, since
He created these things?! Sometimes
we get too hung up on “experiencing” God in a “supernatural” way. While such
experiences are wonderful and faith-building and should be sought, God does not
want us to worship experiences. God wants us to worship Him. And we will grow
in worship when we look for Him in the moments of our day. Where is God right now? How has God shown His love and presence to me
today? What is something practical God has helped me with? As we think of
these things, we will be drawn to new levels of thanksgiving and worship.
JORUNALING AND PRAYER
1. What
Bible stories can you think of where God thwarted the plans of man in order to
accomplish His own plans? How have you personally seen God do this?
2. Take
some time to ponder those questions that were at the end of the reading: Where is God right now? How has God shown
His love and presence to me today? What is something practical God has helped
me with? Thank God for these things. Ask Him to open your eyes to His practical workings in your life.
3. Read
Psalm 11 and thank God that He is victorious! Though evil will appear to
flourish and triumph in the last days, we know with certainty that God is in
His holy temple and on His throne, and that He is coming to reign over us in
righteousness and justice!
