Absalom Seeks Counsel
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 17:1-14. In this Scripture Absalom seeks counsel about what he should do concerning his father, King David. Ahithophel told Absalom, he would choose twelve thousand men, and pursue David that night.
He said he would sneak up on David while he was weak and weary, and terrify him. Then all the people who were with him would flee and he could kill the king.
He said he would bring back all the people to Absalom. By only killing David he would still have all the people of Israel to back him. All the people would live in peace.
Absalom was well pleased with what Ahithophel suggested and so were all the elders of Israel. Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite as well, and let’s hear what he suggests.” Absalom wanted to get a second opinion.
When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom told Hushai what Ahithophel suggested and asked if he agreed.
Hushai told Absalom, The advice that Ahithophel had given was not good at that time. Hushai told Absalom that he knew his father and his men were mighty men of war. They were bitter, like a bear who had been robbed of her cubs in the field. He reminded Absalom that his father was an experienced warrior, and would not spend the night with his troops.
He told Absalom that David was hid in a pit somewhere, or in some other place. If he should attack your troops first, and some of them are overthrown whoever hears about it would say, there has been a slaughter among Absalom’s troops.
The bravest of the soldiers, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, would melt. All of the people of Israel knew that David was a mighty man of war, and his soldiers were brave men.
Hushai advised that all the people of Israel gather together from Dan to Beersheba. There would be a multitude of them, like the sand by the sea; and that you lead them to battle.
We will come on him where ever he is found, and attack him as the dew falls on the ground. By the time we are done fighting, neither David nor any of his men, will be left alive.
If he goes into a city, then all the people of Israel could bring ropes to that city, and draw it into the river, until there was not as much as one small stone left.
Absalom and the men of Israel thought the advice of Hushai was better than that of Ahithophel.
The LORD had His own plan. He was determined to defeat the advice of Ahithophel, so that He might bring evil to Absalom. The LORD reminds us in Proverbs 8:14 “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.”
Sometimes it is good to seek counsel from more than one person. Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Daily Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 17:1-14
1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
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 appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
Things to think about:
- What was Ahithophel’s plan?
- What did Absalom think about Ahithophel’s plan?
- Of whom did Absalom ask for a second opinion?
- Whose plan did Absalom prefer? Why?
Prayer of the Day:
As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that Absalom seeks counsel from Ahithophel and Hushai. We see that each one of them had their own advice to share. We also see that You had Your plan and one of these men was in tune with it. Help us to seek wise counsel, but help us to seek Your counsel first of all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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Featured Book:
The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions
by Deborah H. Bateman
About the book:
The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions is a Daily Bible Reading study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of Zechariah from the Old Testament of the Bible. Zechariah was a prophet during Old Testament times. He tells of eight dreams or visions he has where the LORD communicates with him.
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The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and visions contains twenty-two Daily Bible Reading Lessons that take you through the entire book of Zechariah. Each lesson contains a commentary by the author, the Scriptures for Daily Bible Reading, a few questions for contemplation called “Things to think about,” and a Prayer for the Day. It is a great book for individual or group Bible studies.
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