"Who Are You Listening To?"

Proposition - In our text this morning we learn that Absalom is in rebellion against his father David. We will see how He has two counselors giving him advice: 1) Ahithophel – wise, strategic, but aligned against God’s plan and 2) Hushai – loyal to David, used by God to defeat bad counsel.

Interrogative Question - How can you discern whether the advice you receive is wise and godly?

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 17) 17:1–29 In response to David’s prayer in 15:31, Yahweh raises up Hushai the Archite to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. Yahweh also ensures that the needs of David and his entourage are met while in the wilderness.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 17) 17:5 Hushai Sent by David to act as a false counselor to Absalom. See 15:32–37.

Not All So Called Advice Is Godly Advice - vs. 1-4

2 Samuel 17:1–4 NASB95

1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. 2 “I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone, 3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at peace.” 4 So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Ahithophel gives a plan that is:

Logical

Efficient

Likely to succeed

But it is against God’s anointed king (David).

Truth:

Something can sound smart but still be wrong.

A teen might get advice like: “Everyone’s doing it—it’s not a big deal.”

It sounds reasonable… but if it goes against God’s Word, it’s dangerous.

Don’t measure advice by how popular it is

Measure it by whether it lines up with Scripture

God’s Providence Override the Best Human Plans - vs. 5-14

2 Samuel 17:5–14 NASB95

5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel has spoken thus. Shall we carry out his plan? If not, you speak.” 7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good.” 8 Moreover, Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. 9 “Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 “And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 “But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that you personally go into battle. 12 “So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 “If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the valley until not even a small stone is found there.” 14 Then 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 ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.

Hushai gives a different plan—one that is actually weaker militarily. But God uses it to frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel.

Verse 14 shows that God determined to defeat the “good” advice of Ahithophel.

God is in control—even over decisions people make.

Think of a GPS rerouting you. You may think you’re taking the fastest way, but something ahead (an accident, roadblock) would have caused trouble.

God “reroutes” life for His purposes—even when people don’t realize it.

Trust God’s sovereignty

Even when things don’t make sense, God is working

Wrong Choices Lead to Destructive Ends - vs. 23

2 Samuel 17:23 NASB95

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father.

Ahithophel realizes his advice is rejected… and he takes his own life.

This shows the seriousness of:

Pride

Aligning against God

Placing identity in being right instead of being righteous

Rejecting God’s ways always leads to destruction.

Imagine building your identity on:

Popularity

Being the smartest

Being admired

If that gets taken away, everything collapses.

That’s what happened to Ahithophel—his worth was tied to his counsel.

Don’t build your life on success or approval

Build it on obedience to God

God’s Providence is Always Best - vs. 15-29

2 Samuel 17:15–29 NASB95

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “This is what Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have counseled. 16 “Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be destroyed.’ ” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, and a maidservant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not be seen entering the city. 18 But a lad did see them and told Absalom; so the two of them departed quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it. 19 And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known. 20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 It came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you.” 22 Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan. 23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. 27 Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds, 29 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

While Absalom is making decisions, God is:

Protecting David

Providing for David

Preserving His promises

David receives help, food, and support in the wilderness.

God takes care of His people—even in hard seasons.

Like a parent quietly providing for their child—you don’t always see everything they do, but they are constantly working behind the scenes.

When life feels uncertain, remember God is still providing

Trust Him even when you don’t see the whole picture

SO WHAT?

Be careful who you listen to

God is in control of every situation

Wrong choices have real consequences

God faithfully cares for His people

Ask yourself:

Who influences my decisions the most?

Do I check advice against God’s Word?

Am I trusting God—or just following what seems right?

Two paths in the woods:

One is wide, easy, and well-worn

The other is narrow and harder

Most people take the easy one—but it leads to danger. The narrow one leads to safety.

The difference? Who you choose to follow.