Absalom's Confusion, God's Blessing
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
In our study last week of 2 Samuel, we saw that Absalom, David’s son, had initiated a coup. David and his officials fled Jerusalem, and Absalom was headed to Jerusalem to take control of the nation of Israel.
One of the things that I’ve noticed is that man has plans, but often those plans are not in sync with God’s plan. James 4 warns us that we need to make sure our plans are in sync with God’s plans.
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
The second thing that I’ve noticed is that often time it is difficult to see what God’s plan really is. And God often uses our inability to see His plan to accomplish His purpose. In fact, God loves to confound the wise people of this world. In 1 Corinthians 1:19 Paul quotes from Isaiah when he writes:
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
This is true today and it was true in the days of king David. Today, we want to look at an example of God destroying the wisdom of the wise, and frustrating man’s intelligence.
So if you have your Bibles, I want to challenge you to turn with me to 2 Samuel chapter 16, and we’ll begin our study with verse 15.
Two “Wise” Men: Ahithophel verses Hushai
Two “Wise” Men: Ahithophel verses Hushai
Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
We begin with a time marker. At the same time that David is doing thing things contained in the last part of chapter 15 and the first part of chapter 16, these events were happening.
Absalom and his group of supporters arrive in Jerusalem.
Ahithophel is with him. We were introduced to him last week, but let me tell you a bit about him.
—First his name literally means, “Brother of Folley.” So this may have been a nick name that was given to him after he defected from David to Absalom.
—He had been one of the chief advisors to David. So when he joined Absalom, it gave great credibility to Absalom’s bid for the kingdom.
—Many scholars believe he was the grandfather of Bathsheba. You can check out 2 Samuel 11:3 and 2 Samuel 23:24. This could have been his motivation to help Absalom.
He is now the chief advisor of Absalom.
We are told that Ahithophel is with Absalom as he comes into Jerusalem.
Now last week were were introduced to a friend of David. His name is Hushai. And you may remember that David believed Hushai would not be able to keep up with the move so he sent him back as a spy in Absalom’s camp (2 Sam. 15:33-34.
Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
Hushai—David’s friend” comes before Absalom and proclaims, “Long Live the King! Long Live the King.” Notice, he doesn’t say who he thinks the king really is. Nevertheless Absalom assumes Hushai is talking about him.
Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”
Is this how you show your love to your friend (David)?
Why didn’t you run away with your friend?
Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him.
I am loyal to the one chosen by Yahweh, the one chosen by these people, and the one chosen by all the men of Israel. That’s the one with whom I will stay.
Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”
He continues: Who do you think I should serve?
Shouldn’t I serve the son, just like I served your father?
I’ll serve you like served your father.
Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
The subject changes abruptly—Absalom wanted to know what Ahithophel thought he should do.
Ahithophel has a plan.
Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.”
Sleep with your father’s concubines. In that day, this was a way of showing that the conqueror had conquered everything that belonged to the former king!
But this act would be considered to be a rebellion against the Mosaic law and was punishable by death.
Ahithophel says it will help to unite the people because Absalom would be “obnoxious” to his father. So everyone will support you more.
So the put his plan into action.
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
This fulfilled the word of Yahweh back in 2 Samuel 12:11-12.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”
So this actually happened!
This chapter closes with a reminder of how valuable Ahithophel’s advice really was.
Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.
His advice had the same impact as a prophet’s word.
And this was true of both David and Absalom.
Ahithophel’s Plan
Ahithophel’s Plan
Now Ahithophel is going to impart some of his wise advice to Absalom, because he has a plan to further exalt the newly professed king.
Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
First, let me pick 12,000 men
And let us pursue David—right now! Tonight!
I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king
That way I’ll be able to attack him when he is tired and weak!
The surprise attack will strike terror in him.
His army will be so terrorized that they will run away.
And I’ll be able kill the king and the king alone.
and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.”
Once the king is dead, I’ll be able to bring all the people who were with David back and they will join you.
You win two ways:
—First, your father is killed and you become the king without any more battling.
—Secondly, you get all the people who are with David.
It’s a win, win!
This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
The plan seemed good to Absalom, and it seemed good to all the officials.
But!
But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.”
But Absalom wants to hear from someone else—Hushai.
So, he has Hushai summoned to him.
When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”
He tells Hushai what Ahithophel advised.
Absalom wants to know if Hushai believes it is a good plan or not.
And if not what would he recommend?
Hushai’s Plan
Hushai’s Plan
Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.
Ahithophel’s advice is NOT good this time. He disapproves.
You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops.
Why Ahithophel’s Plan Won’t Work
Why Ahithophel’s Plan Won’t Work
Now he gives the reasons he doesn’t like Ahithophel’s plan.
You know your father and his men:
—They are fighters!
—They are a mean as a wild mama bear who’s been separated from her cubs! They are not going to be afraid like Ahithophel thinks.
Since your father is an experienced fighter, he will not spend the night with the troops.
Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’
No, even now he is hold-up in a cave or some other place.
He is laying wait to attack any troops that may come after him.
If he attacks first, everyone will say, “There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.”
Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.
Then even your bravest soldiers—those with the hear of a lion—will fall away in fear!
After all—Everyone in Israel knows that your father is a fighter.
And they know that the men with him are the bravest of the brave!
“So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba—as numerous as the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle.
Hushai’s Plan
Hushai’s Plan
Here’s the plan!
Gather all the men in Israel—from Dan to Beersheba (from the far reaches of the north to the far southern areas—symbolizes ALL OF ISRAEL).
They will be of greater number than the sand on the seashore.
Once you have them gathered—YOU should lead them into battle!
Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.
Then we will attack David wherever he is found—it doesn’t matter where he is!
He says that they will fall on David like the dew falls on the ground.
They will show NO mercy—every single man will be killed, no one will be left alive.
If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not so much as a pebble is left.”
If David and his troops flee to some city for protection
We’ll drag down the walls with ropes and drag them all the way down into the valley.
Not a single pebble will be left standing!
The Response
The Response
Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
Absalom likes Hushai’s plan better than Ahithophel’s plan.
—It appeals to his ego.
—God determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel—so he could bring disaster on Absalom.
The second part of this verse is why I made it the memory verse for this week. Because God will build up or tear down, and sometimes he brings people simply to do his bidding.
Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so.
Hushai goes to Zadok and Abiathar to tell them everything that was said.
Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ”
They need to get an urgent message to David.
Don’t spend the night at the fords in the wilderness.
Go ahead and cross over the Jordan River NOW!
Or the king and all the people will be swallowed up.
There’s a story about the danger of getting the message to David. We don’t really have the time to look at it, but you can read it for yourself.
I want us to see what happens to Ahithophel. So look down at verse 23.
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
He saddled his donkey and went to his home.
Put his affairs in order (whatever that looks like)
Then he commits suicide.
And is buried in the family tomb.
SO WHAT?
SO WHAT?
Man plans all kinds of things. And most often, man’s plans are no where close to God’s plan.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God has a plan—and He knows the plan and puts the plan into place.
God often uses what we perceive as “bad things” in our lives to accomplish His purposes. That’s the beauty of Romans 8:28.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Ahithophel’s plan was the better of the two plan—from a human military standpoint. But Hushai’s plan—as we’ll see next week—is the plan that God is going to use to accomplish His purpose.
David felt alone, misunderstood, and somewhat lost during this time. If you don’t believe me, check out Psalm 3.
So what in your life is causing you to feel along, misunderstood, or even lost in your journey. Remember God is working out His perfect plan in your life!