God gives us free will to make decisions and our choices often reveal our hearts (God already knows our hearts).
Some of us dislike having to take decisions but we all have choices to make and they shape our lives. David had to take an unexpected decision (no warning was given) and flee from Jerusalem with his whole household. One minute he was the King ruling over the nation and the next he was living rough in the Judean countryside with a whole company of people. HE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO ARRANGE EVERYTHING AND TAKE ALONG ALL THEY NEEDED, IT WAS A FORCED EXIT. David had lived trusting God in the wilderness, usually leading a company of people. He was thrust out again without warning and had to leave at once and trust God. Some of us may suddenly find ourselves in very unexpected situations, but don’t despair God is still with us. It may be difficult for a time and we may be uncertain what to do, but He’s with us.
WHEN WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS THAT’S WHEN WE LEARN TRUST!
15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, ‘Long live the king! Long live the king!’ 2 Samuel 16
Ahithophel was a key man, he was the only one named of all those who entered Jerusalem with Absalom. Then we have Hushai, David’s confidant, sent to frustrate Ahithophel’s advice.
20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, ‘Give us your advice. What should we do?’
21 Ahithophel answered, ‘Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.’
After David sinned with Bathsheba, God told him that what he’d done in secret and tried to cover up, God would do to him before all the people. 2 Samuel 12:11, 12 So Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice and God’s word was fulfilled.
Then Absalom asked Ahithophel how he should attack David and those with him.
Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘I would choose twelve thousand men and SET OUT TONIGHT in pursuit of David. 2 I would ATTACK HIM WHILE HE IS WEARY AND WEAK. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would STRIKE DOWN ONLY THE KING 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.’ 2 Samuel 17
The advice was good, but for some reason Absalom sent for Hushai and asked for his advice. He gave conflicting advice, as David had instructed and Absalom and the elders accepted it instead of Ahithophel’s.
We need to be careful who we take advice from and more importantly we need to pray and ask God to direct us. It’s so easy to follow the Majority, but often they don’t have the leading of the Spirit.
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.’ For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
God didn’t let Ahithophel’s advice stand, it would have been too dangerous for David and those with him. No matter how clever the wicked, God and God’s man will prevail.
God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you today and give you Peace.