Godly fathers-ungodly sons-28
We left David fleeing Jerusalem for his life. Many accompanied him as he sought safety out in the wilderness. This is somewhat reminiscent of his fleeing from Saul some 35+ years earlier.
2 Samuel 16:15 Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16:16 Now it came about when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 16:17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?" 16:18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No! For whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 16:19 "Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence."
Absalom has now taken over in Jerusalem. All of his patient and lengthy planning has appeared to pay off. David’s trusted counselor, Hushai, has come to present himself to Absalom as a loyal aid to his cause.
16:20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your advice. What shall we do?" 16:21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened." 16:22 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. 16:23 The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.
Apparently, Absalom’s rather indecent act was meant to show that he was now fully in charge. Notice no one sought to seek God’s advice so far in this sad story, including David.
17:1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. 17:2 "I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone,
17:3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at peace." 17:4 So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
Ahithophel is not only a ‘wise’ counselor, he now wants to have the ‘honor’ of killing David himself. Everyone like his plan to go after David with 12,000 men and only kill David. As if those with David would not defend him to their death.
17:5 Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say." 17:6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, "Ahithophel has spoken thus. Shall we carry out his plan? If not, you speak." 17:7 So Hushai said to Absalom, "This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good." 17:8 Moreover, Hushai said, "You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. 17:9 "Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.'
17:10 "And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men. 17:11 "But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that you personally go into battle.
Amassing a large army takes some time. It sounds like overkill as David did not leave with an army. However, he would now have time to accumulate an army to defend himself.
17:12 "So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 17:13 "If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the valley until not even a small stone is found there." 17:14 Then 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 thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom.
They all liked this plan better, as it may seem to be almost foolproof! They basically agreed that you would need an army to go after King David. His reputation as a man of war helped them choose the plan of Hushai.
What have we learned and where is this going?
Absalom is going to kill his father and make himself king.
Everyone seems to be okay with this.
David and his men understand this as well.
There is not one mention of anyone seeking the will of the LORD.
The odds seem to be in Absalom’s favor.
David is fleeing but he has not given up yet.
More next Saturday.