QT 4/6/2023 2 Sam 16:5-17:14, How do I check the advice given?

Oops, I missed a whole two chapters, and need to go back ...

2 Samuel 16:5–12 (ESV) —

5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.

 

2 Samuel 16:20–17:6 (ESV) —

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.

1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.”

 

2 Samuel 17:14 (ESV) —

14 And 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 defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.

 

NOTE: It is certainly weary when you are down in the dumps to have another just heap more coals upon you. And no one would have faulted David for using the power of his position to silence Shime-i. But, it was David's original abuse of power that started the whole problem. The abuse was how he treated God, his position, and Uriah. Shime-I was wrong but he was not causing great harm. To have listened to Abishai (and silenced "the dog"), that would have been another abuse of authority.

 

Who are the voices we should listen to? Ahithophel told Absalom to rape ten women and act quickly to strike David. Hushai tells him to wait and gather forces because David is a dangerous warrior when cornered. Both pieces of advice seem good (well, not the rape part).

 

Absalom acted in evil. He had killed his brother Ammon. He had deceitfully stole the people's heart. Now he was going to kill his father for power. Absalom's abuse was even greater than David's abuse with Bathsheba and Uriah. And Absalom does not mention or seek God in any of it. So, yes, for the sake of Israel, God wanted to defeat the advice of Ahithophel and God intervened and made Hushai's advice seem better.

 

I believe God would have provided for David in either case. He would have intervened in the ensuing battle or done something miraculous. He had forgiven David, but he had not taken away the consequences of his actions.

 

Absalom had sinned and not repented of any of his sin. God intended to judge Absalom. Since Absalom appears to already have a hard heart, God hardens it against Ahithophel's advice.

 

PONDER:

1. David saw Shime-I's actions in a spiritual realm. He was in tune with God. Absalom did not once consult God in any action. He only listened to human voices and opinion. Who do I listen to?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray I would not look at things from only a materialistic view, but also (and always) from a spiritual view. Every decision really does have a spiritual aspect. My whole life needs to be lived with you always as a part of it. Help me to remember these things.