Day 288 – Counsel

2 Samuel 17:1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now 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 weak and make him afraid. Then the people with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. 3 Then I will bring back the people to you. When everyone returns except the man whom you seek, the people will be at peace.”

 4 The saying pleased Absalom and the elders of Israel.

 5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says too.”

 6 When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel spoke in this manner. Will we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

 7 Hushai said to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel gave is not good at this time. 8 For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and 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. 9 By now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, 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.’ 10 Even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt completely. For Israel knows your father is a mighty man, and those with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore, I advise that Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 Then we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. Of him and the men with him there will not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then Israel will bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

 14 Then Absalom and the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For JEHOVAH had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that JEHOVAH might bring disaster on Absalom.

 15 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. 16 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 the people with him be swallowed up.’”

 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.

 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them and told Absalom. But both went away and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it.

 19 Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.

 20 When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

 The woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” When they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

 21 Now it happened, after they departed, they came out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”

 22 David and the people with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

 23 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.

 24 Then David went to Mahanaim. Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and the men of Israel with him.

 25 Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in unto Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.

 26 Then Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

 27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Hagios Pneuma – Sacred, Holy, Wind, Breath, Spirit

God’s character:

Judgment

People seek advice at various times in their lives. How do you know when the advice you receive is right and you should act on it?

Absalom asked two people for advice about going against his father and received two different counsels. He accepted the one over the other because JEHOVAH intended to defeat Absalom.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as your Savior and Lord, you received the Hagios Pneuma to teach and advise you on your walk with the Lord. When you spend time in JEHOVAH’S Word and pray, seeking His counsel in everything, you will know what you need to do.

Absalom received two different counsels. He didn’t know David sent one of the men to advise him and keep him informed about his actions. JEHOVAH intended his defeat because David was His anointed and a man who spent time with Him daily. David knew how to act because of his close relationship with JEHOVAH.

You will know how to act in various situations also when you seek Yeshuwa’s counsel before you proceed with your plans. Let Yeshuwa guide you through every situation in your life and you will always do the right thing.

Let’s pray: Father, help me turn to You before I act on any plans for my life. Let me hear Your voice and counsel in everything I undertake. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2 November 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux