2 Samuel 16 & 17 Taking What Comes, Knowing God Is On His Throne

Absalom was on his way to kill his father David and take the throne.  Not wanting a blood bath in Jerusalem, David and his family fled the city and headed for the border, travelling quickly by night.

 

The servant tasked with taking care of Jonathan’s lame son Mephibosheth came to David with travel supplies and telling David a lie that Mephibosheth was seeking the throne.  David, tired and drained, didn’t think to check out the story first and granted the servant ownership of everything that was Mephibosheth’s as they fled the city.

 

David’s friend Hushai agreed to stay behind and offer his counselor services to Absalom, which set up a spy network inside the palace to relay intelligence to David.  Absalom’s chief counselor, Ahithophel, was Bathsheba’s grandfather, who was motivated by vengeance to ruin David.  His first suggestion was that Absalom publicly make it known that he was having sexual relations with his father’s concubines – a visual slap in the face to his father.  Absalom was only too happy to comply. 

 

Ahithophel then suggested a quick, surgical attack on David with a small, fast-moving group of soldiers to find David and kill him with little bloodshed.  But Absalom asked for a second opinion from Hushai, who appealed to Absalom’s pride by suggesting he muster a huge army with Absalom leading, to overwhelm David’s forces completely.  Absalom took the bait.  While preparations were being made, the spy network sent out two runners to alert David.  The scene was set for a civil war, pitting father against son, uncle against nephew, and cousin against cousin.  It wasn’t going to be pretty.

 

Father, thank You again for Your wise counsel, particularly in how David rose above the fray by accepting insults and injury rather than causing great destruction in his city.  It helps me to know that You ARE on the throne and will one day “balance the books” for losses that don’t seem fair.  I can leave that up to You.  Thank You for reminding me to always consider motives and help me to seek Your face so that, despite what is happening at the moment, I will end well.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford