2 Samuel 17:23 All Was Lost!

 ”Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.“ II Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. When Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed: Ahithophel did not kill himself over hurt feelings because his counsel was rejected. Instead, he was wise enough to know that under Hushai’s plan Absalom would fail and Ahithophel would be implicated in the conspiracy. He knew all was lost.

b. He put his household in order, and hanged himself: Ahithophel committed suicide, and we know that suicide is a sin because it is self-murder and God commanded you shall not murder(Exodus 20:13). Yet suicide should not be regarded as an unforgivable sin. Anyone who does commit suicide has given in to the lies and deceptions of Satan, whose purpose is to kill and destroy (John 10:10).

i. “Suicide is always the ultimate action of cowardice. In the case of Saul, and in many similar cases, it is perfectly natural; but let it never be glorified as heroic. It is the last resort of the man who dare not stand up to life.” (Morgan)

ii. “I desire to call your attention to the text on account of its very remarkable character. ‘He put his house in order, and hanged himself.’To put his house in order, showed that he was a prudent man; to hang himself, proved that he was a fool. Herein is a strange mixture of discretion and desperation, mind and madness. Shall a man have wisdom enough to arrange his worldly affairs with care, and yet shall he be so hapless as to take his own life afterwards?” (Spurgeon)

iii. “Thousands set their houses in order, but destroy their souls; they look well to their flocks and their herds, but not to their hearts’ best interests. They gather broken shells with continuous industry, but they throw away priceless diamonds. They exercise forethought, prudence, care, everywhere but where they are most required. They save their money, but squander their happiness; they are guardians of their estates, but suicides of their souls.” (Spurgeon)

(Guzik)

All Was Lost!

Ahithophel knew all was lost and took his own life to escape justice but if you read Spurgeon’s last comment: they are guardians of their estates, “but suicides of their souls.”

How can anyone put their house in order without concern for their soul?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 17:15-16 Regroup!

 ”Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ”“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: This is exactly what David had in mind when he sent Hushai and the priests back to Absalom (2 Samuel 15:35-36).

b. Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over: Hushai meant that David should cross over the Jordan River, giving him room and time to regroup before Absalom’s attack. (Guzik)

Regroup!

When life gets hard and gets us down we also need to regroup by getting into the word of God and prayer.

”Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.“ 

James‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give an occasional pluck at the rope; but he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly, and pulls continuously, with all his might.” (SPURGEON)

Do you grasp the rope boldly?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 17:14 Invincible Power Of God!

 ”So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel: This was the first time anyone said this – people always favored the advice of Ahithophel. One reason Absalom liked Hushai’s advice was because it appealed to his vanity.

b. The LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel: This was the main reason why the advice of Ahithophel was rejected. God was in control. The throne of Israel belonged to Him, and He could grant it or deny at His will.

i. Absalom had the smartest man in Israel on his side, but David’s prayer was mightier than Ahithophel’s intelligence. God led Ahithophel to give foolish counsel that was listened to (as in 2 Samuel 16:20-23). God allowed Ahithophel to give great advice and yet have it be rejected. God was in control; the LORD had purposed.

ii. “This is one of the great principles of life which every page of the Bible emphasizes and illustrates. Men cannot escape God. They go their own way, but that way never sets them free from the authority and the invincible power of God.” (Morgan)

iii. We see that the LORD purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel because David prayed. Prayer moves the hand of God, and David prayed: O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness! (2 Samuel 15:31) (Guzik)

Invincible Power Of God!

David’s prayer was greater than Ahitophel’s intelligence because God was in control!

“Prayer moves the hand of God”!

”But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.“ Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;“

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Ever watch The War Room movie?

Blessings 

The War Room

2 Samuel 17:5-10 Another Opinion!

 ”Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says too.” And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.” So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.“ ‭‭

II Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Now call Hushai the Archite: It is a remarkable evidence of the hand of God and answer to David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 15:31 that Absalom even asked for another opinion after such wise, well-received counsel.

b. The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time: We can imagine that Hushai’s heart sank when he heard of the smart plan Ahithophel suggested. He had to quickly think of a counter-plan so that he could defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, as David asked him to do in 2 Samuel 15:32-35.

c. You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men: Hushai spoke of the David of the past, not the David of the present. Hushai saw David with his own eyes and knew that he was not strong and mighty. He hoped that Absalom would vividly remember the David of the past.

d. Like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field…. by now he is hidden is some pit: Hushai knew David could barely keep himself together, but he effectively painted the picture that David and his men were dangerous and should not be attacked quickly.

e. There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom: Hushai’s point was that it was too risky to attack David immediately. We can imagine that he said all this praying that God would indeed answer David’s prayer and defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. (Guzik)

Another Opinion!

Hushai had to think of a counter-plan to stall Ahithophel’s war plan quickly and that Absalom even asked for a second opinion shows the hand of God answered David’s prayer!

As I study through the Bible I look back on my life I see the Lord guiding my footsteps to the point where I am at today serving in a twelve step ministry in our church.

”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.“

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If I had leaned on my own understanding and sought another opinion I would have talked myself out of serving in the ministry!

Do you trust in the Lord and allow Him to direct your paths?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 17:1-4 The Real King!

 ”Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. I will arise and pursue David tonight: Ahithophel advised a quick, selective attack against David only (I will strike only the king). He advised urgency, doing it all while David was still west of the Jordan River.

b. I will strike only the king: This slip of the tongue was more like an unknowing prophecy. Deep in his heart, even Ahithophel knew that David was the real king.

c. And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel: Ahithophel’s plan was smart. It was bold and had a high probability of success and it would spare Israel a protracted civil war between the supporters of David and the supporters of Absalom. (Guzik)

The Real King!

Just like Ahithophel, Satan tries to convince us that Jesus isn’t the real King! 

But look at what the Bible says:

”For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”“ Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And about His second coming:

”And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.“ Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Are you more passionate about anything other than Jesus? If so He is not your King and Satan has you right where he wants you. I’m guilty about being more passionate about earthly things from time to time and I pray that the Holy Spirit renews my mind and spirit for The Real King!

Blessings 

2 Samuel 16:20-22 Power of Bitterness!

 ”Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.” And 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 are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go into your father’s concubines”: Ahithophel told Absalom to do something so offensive that it would eliminate any possibility of reconciliation with David. Ahithophel felt this strong statement would give courage to Absalom’s followers.

i. In the ancient world, taking the king’s concubines was not only an act of immorality; but also, an act of treason. This was a way for Absalom to not only replace David but also to completely repudiate his father.

ii. Why did Ahithophel give such radical advice? Because it made sense from his own self-interest. Ahithophel had the most to lose if Absalom failed to keep the throne or if David and Absalom reconciled. He would be revealed and rejected as a traitor.

iii. The Puritan commentator John Trapp wrote this of Ahithophel’s tongue, which gave this wicked advice: “O tongue worthy to have been cut out, shred in gobbets and driven down the throat of him that thus misused him, to the engaging of Absalom in such an unpardonable villainy, beside hazard of his immortal soul!”

b. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines: This disgraceful act said a lot about Absalom, who actually did it. It also said a lot about Ahithophel, who must have had a strange sense of satisfaction in seeing David’s women violated in a similar way to his granddaughter Bathsheba.

i. 2 Samuel 11:3 tells us that Bathsheba’s father was Eliam, one of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:34). This also means that her grandfather was Ahithophel (according to 2 Samuel 23:34).

ii. This shows the power of bitterness. Ahithophel was willing to see these women abused, Absalom grievously sin, and the kingdom of Israel suffer greatly – all simply to satisfy his bitter longing for revenge.

iii. This disgraceful incident also shows that God kept His promise to David: I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of the sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun (2 Samuel 12:11-12).

iv. “Every part of the conduct of Absalom shows him to have been a most profligate young man; he was proud, vindictive, adulterous, incestuous, a parricide, and in fine, reprobate to every good word and work.” (Clarke)

c. Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God: Ahithophel had a well-deserved reputation for giving counsel almost as good as God. But in this case, his counsel was foolish and destructive.

i. It was foolish and destructive because it was motivated by bitterness. Bitterness has the power to turn our best qualities sour.

ii. It was foolish and destructive because God answered David’s prayer (2 Samuel 15:31) by prompting Ahithophel to give this foolish counsel, and in prompting Absalom to take the foolish counsel.

iii. Strangely, Absalom thought he could establish his kingdom through immorality. He was a clever and skilled politician but ignorant about the ways of God. (Guzik)

Power of Bitterness!

The human heart can easily be ensnared in bitterness and Ahithophel is a biblical example of the power of bitterness resulting in revenge.

”looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The moment I sense bitterness creeping into my heart I lift it up to the Lord and ask Him to remove it. It may be a process that lasts for days! 

I have to continually remind myself that Jesus loves them too!

How do you deal with bitterness?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 16:15-19 Spy Wednesday!

”Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him. And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”“ II Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom: Hushai wanted to leave with David and support him (2 Samuel 15:32-34). David thought it was better to send Hushai back to Absalom, to both spy on Absalom and to give him bad advice.

i. The bad advice from Hushai was thought necessary because Ahithophel was with Absalom. Ahithophel was famous for his wise counsel, and David wanted someone on the inside of Absalom’s leadership who might frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel.

b. As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence: Hushai lied to Absalom, concealing his motives – like any good spy hides his or her true intentions. (Guzik)

Spy Wednesday!

Like a good spy Judas Iscariot hides his true intentions and betrays Jesus by disclosing His location in the garden of Gethsemane to the high priest for 30 pieces of silver as it was prophesied and written: ”Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.“ Psalms‬ ‭41‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We just finished watching Season 5 of the The Chosen on Amazon Prime and it ended with Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss! Even though we know the outcome, it left us wanting to see more of the series! We can’t wait for Season 6!

Have you ever had someone whom you thought was a close friend, act like a good spy by hiding his or her true intentions, betraying your trust and friendship?

Blessings 

Spy Wednesday