2 Samuel 15:11-12 Silence!

”And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. With Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem: Absalom wisely knew that he needed others to endorse – or at least to appear to endorse – his government. He counted on these two hundred men who were not against David, to at least be silent and therefore give the impression that they were for Absalom.

i. When the innocent and unknowing are among the divisive, their silence is always received as agreement.

b. Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor: Absalom’s government gained more prestige when one of David’s top aides defected to his side. This genuinely hurt David; he described his feelings in Psalm 41: Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me (Psalm 41:9).

i. Ahithophel was renowned for his wisdom and wise counsel (2 Samuel 16:23). Even wise men can take their side with divisive and destructive leaders. In Ahithophel’s case, it was probably prompted by a sense of personal hurt and bitterness because of what David did to Ahithophel’s granddaughter Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3 and 23:34).

c. While he offered sacrifices: Absalom was careful to keep up his religious practices, both for the sake of image and because he was deceived enough to think that God wanted to bless him.

d. And the conspiracy grew strong: Once some people started coming to Absalom’s side, it encouraged more and more to come. Momentum for division builds because others are already causing division. (Guzik)

Silence!

“When the innocent and unknowing are among the divisive, their silence is always received as agreement.” (Guzik)

I am struck by the difference between David and Absalom! David was anointed by Samuel but didn’t attempt to remove Saul because Saul was also Gods anointed king. So David waited for God to remove Saul. 

But here we have Absalom being divisive working on a treasonous takeover of his father’s position as king!

Have you ever kept silent when someone was being divisive?

Blessings