The Invisible, Yet Invincible God

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. 16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel. A female servant was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they were not to be seen entering the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard. And they went down into it. 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, and nothing was known of it. 20 When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, “Arise, and go quickly over the water, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.” 22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had married Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, 29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from 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.” – 2 Samuel 17:15-29 ESV

As the story continues to unfold, the will of God begins to reveal itself. His divine strategy becomes increasingly more clear with each detail of the narrative. David had sent Hushai, one of his counselors, back to Jerusalem with instructions to act as his spy in the court of Absalom. Specifically, Hushai was to serve as a counselor to Absalom, countering any advice given by Ahithophel, another one of David’s former counselors who had betrayed him.

Hushai did as David asked and was able to refute the counsel given by Ahithophel. Had Hushai not been there, Absalom would have heeded Ahithophel's advice to send 12,000 men to hunt down and eliminate David. Exhausted by his quick departure from Jerusalem, burdened by the presence of many defenseless women and children, and severely outmanned, David would have been at a great disadvantage. Had Hushai not been there to provide alternative counsel to Absalom, things could have turned out very badly for David. But God was in control. He supplied Hushai with the exact words to speak that would appeal to Absalom’s ego and undermine the counsel of Ahithophel.

Part of Hushai’s advice to Absalom was that he assemble and personally lead a massive army to fight one epic battle with David.

“I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops. When we find David, we’ll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.” – 2 Samuel 17:11-12 NLT

Under the divine inspiration of God, Hushai gave counsel that stroked Absalom’s massive ego and caused him to reject Ahithophel’s earlier advice. Ahithophel took this rejection very hard; so much so, that he immediately left the king’s presence, returned home, and hung himself. Some scholars believe that his suicide did not take place until after the battle between David and Absalom took place and he realized that his days were numbered. However, the text doesn’t indicate that kind of a delay.

It appears that Ahithophel betrayed David so that he could be the sole counselor to the new king. He had helped Absalom plan his coup, going out of his way to ingratiate himself with David’s rebellious son, all out of a desire for power and influence. When Hushai unexpectedly appeared and proved himself capable of winning over Absalom’s favor, Ahithophel couldn’t take it, so he killed himself. Once again, God was working behind the scenes, orchestrating events in such a way that the outcomes were in David’s favor.

This story is full of twists and turns, with each side attempting to outwit and outmaneuver the other in an attempt to win control of the kingdom. Absalom had taken the city of Jerusalem, but as long as David was alive, he knew his reign was in jeopardy. David had vacated the capital but had not yet relinquished his crown. He had established a system for gathering vital intelligence so that he could remain informed about all that Absalom was planning. He had given Zadok the priest specific instructions to return to Jerusalem and serve as his eyes and ears. 

“Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.” – 2 Samuel 15:27-28 NLT

Because they were priests, Absalom would have viewed Zadok and Abiathar as non-threats to his coup d'etat. They were not official members of David’s former administration, so he took no notice of them. But following David’s instructions, Hushai shared with them the latest change in plans so they could pass the news on to their sons who would then report back to David. But like a scene from the pages of a spy novel, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were spotted in the town of En-rogel and their presence was reported to Absalom.  When the two men discovered that their cover had been broken, “they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard. The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there” ( 2 Samuel 17:18-19 NLT).

As expected, Absalom sent troops to arrest the two men, but they returned empty-handed. Through a series of events and with the help of various individuals, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were spared. But their escape was not the result of good fortune or the presence of a pro-David underground network; it was the work of God. The Almighty stepped in and protected Jonathan and Ahimaaz by providing them with sanctuary in the house of someone favorable to David. It was all part of His divine plan to restore David and undermine the efforts of Absalom.

With God’s help, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were able to escape and share Hushai’s news with David. This intelligence provided David with time to prepare for the upcoming battle with Absalom. One of the first things he had to do was amass enough men to field an army of his own. But, once again, God was on his side. Before David knew it, the necessary forces began to show up, unannounced and uninvited. The text lists the names of Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai, three men who came alongside David and provided him with much-needed provisions and support. But more importantly, they brought David moral support. He was not alone. God had not abandoned him. Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai offered David their friendship in one of the darkest moments of his life. God was letting David know that all was not lost; this seemingly bleak period of his life would have a bright outcome. David had no way of knowing what would happen the following day, but he was confident that God was with him.

Sometimes, God reveals Himself to us in the little “miracles” of life. Hushai’s counsel had been accepted by Absalom. David’s spy network had worked and God had protected Jonathan and Ahimaaz so they could bring David news. Food and moral support showed up unexpectedly and at just the right time. As the next chapter will reveal, many others will lend their support to David’s cause, allowing him to field an army that numbered in the thousands.

God is not mentioned in this section of Scripture, but His presence and power can be felt. He is at work, unseen by human eyes, but clearly evident in the way the events unfold. You can almost sense the tide turning and the momentum shifting. Absalom has been on a roll; everything seems to be going his way. It’s as if he could do nothing wrong. He had taken the city of Jerusalem without a fight and stolen his father’s kingdom in a bloodless coup. He had won the hearts of the people and his future looked bright. But he could not see the hand of God. He was oblivious to what God was doing and had no way of knowing what God had in store for him. He was unaware that his co-conspirator and primary counselor had hung himself and, before long, Absalom would suffer a similar fate. Because the hand of God is greater than the armies of man.

You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. – Proverbs 19:21 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Instruments in the Hands of a Holy God

15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 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. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. – 2 Samuel 16:15-23 ESV

After David’s humiliating exit from the capital, Absalom waltzed in unopposed and without a fight. His carefully and patiently planned coup had come off without a hitch. Without lifting a sword or shedding a drop of blood, Absalom had stolen his father’s throne and elevated himself to the highest position in the land. As Absalom and his co-conspirators took up residence in the abandoned royal palace, they must have been overjoyed at the ease with which their plan unfolded. Absalom’s self-serving friends would have showered him with laudatory praise and flattering compliments, hoping to ingratiate themselves with Israel’s new king.

Yet, from God’s perspective, nothing had changed because this insurrection had been completely outside His will. As the sovereign God of the universe, God had allowed Absalom to plan and perpetrate the takeover of his father’s kingdom, but as far as God was concerned, David was still the anointed king of Israel. Not only that, according to God’s revealed will, Solomon was to be David’s successor – not Absalom. As the eldest son of David, Absalom considered himself the rightful heir apparent. But little did he know that God had other plans for his life. All of Absalom’s plotting and planning to usurp his father’s throne would end up accomplishing the will of God, but in a way that Absalom could never have imagined. 

When Nathan the prophet confronted David about his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, he relayed a portion of God’s divine punishment.

“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” – 2 Samuel 12:11-12 NLT

God didn’t force Absalom to do what he did; his actions were his own responsibility. Yet God took advantage of Absalom’s pride and pent-up resentment toward his father to fulfill the judgment David deserved. Absalom was not destined to be king, but he would become an unwitting and unwilling instrument in the hands of God.

What happens next provides a glimpse into the character quality of Absalom and his associates. Upon commandeering the royal palace, Absalom sought the counsel of advisors. As the new king of Israel, what should be his next steps? How should he commemorate and demonstrate his newfound power before the people?  He could have declared a royal holiday or scheduled a public address to the masses. Absalom could have continued to reassure the people that he would be a king who provided justice and mercy (2 Samuel 15:1-4). But the advice Absalom received was of a completely different nature.

Ahithophel, who had served as a trusted counselor to David, had remained in the capital and aligned himself with Absalom. This former consultant to the king had chosen to betray his former friend and employer. But worse yet, he provided Absalom with shocking advice that would guarantee David’s humiliation and solidify the fractured state of their relationship.

“Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” – 2 Samuel 16:21 NLT

One can only guess the motivation behind Ahithophel’s counsel. This man was considered to be wise, discerning, and a trustworthy spokesman for God.

…every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God. – 2 Samuel 16:23 NLT

Yet, Ahithophel was recommending that Absalom disobey one of God’s commands.

“Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

“Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.” – Leviticus 18:7-8 NLT

Was Ahithophel setting up Absalom for failure? Was his advice intended to harm rather than help? The text doesn’t provide the motivation behind Ahithophel’s shocking counsel, but because he had a reputation for speaking on behalf of God, his words carried weight. Absalom took Ahithophel’s advice and sexually violated his father’s concubines, and it was all done in a much-publicized manner so that everyone knew the import of his actions.

It was all intended as an insult to David, showing that Absalom had not only taken David’s kingdom and palace but everything that had once belonged to him. As news of Absalom’s shocking actions spread throughout the city, the people of Jerusalem must have wondered what the future would be like under their new king.

But we must recognize this was all part of God’s will; He had warned David that this very thing would happen. It’s important to recall that it was from the very same rooftop that David had begun his own descent into adultery. This same vantage point had provided him with a bird’s-eye view of Bathsheba, bathing on another nearby rooftop. In a fit of lust, he sent for her and slept with her, ignoring the fact that she was a married woman. When he later discovered that she was pregnant, he attempted to cover his sin by having her husband brought back from the front. David had hoped that Uriah’s return would give the impression that the child was his. But when Uriah refused to sleep with his own wife, David ordered that he be sent back to the front lines and exposed to enemy fire, thus ensuring his death. With Uriah out of the way, David was “free” to take Bathsheba as his wife.

David’s sin with Bathsheba had been cloaked in secrecy. Even his murder of Uriah had been carefully concealed and known only to Joab, David’s faithful and overly compliant military commander. But years later, David’s sin and God’s discipline for it would be on full display for all to see. Absalom’s public violation of David’s wives took place on the very rooftop where David’s battle with the lure of lust had begun.

Like so many other times in the Scriptures, God used an unexpected source to teach one of His children a powerful and important lesson. In this case, God chose to use David’s own son as a tool to fulfill His promise of discipline. All of the actors in this sordid drama were unwittingly following a script that God had written. God didn’t command Ahithophel to give ungodly and unrighteous counsel to Absalom. This would have been in violation of God’s own character. James points out the fallacy of blaming God for our sins.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. – James 1:13-14 BSB

While Ahithophel’s counsel was anything but godly, he was still an unwitting instrument in the hands of God. This former counselor of David, who had treacherously aided Absalom in his overthrow of the kingdom, was used by God to accomplish His divine will concerning David’s punishment. It was all part of God’s plan. At no point was God out of control or up in heaven shaking His head in surprise at all that was taking place. God was using these events to accomplish His will and He had far more in store for Absalom.

From a human perspective, all looked lost, but God was in complete control of every single aspect of this entire affair. As demoralizing and humiliating as this was to David, God was still at work. He was simply fulfilling what He had promised and accomplishing all that He had planned. What appeared to be an unmitigated disaster was actually part of God’s sovereign will.

There is an invaluable lesson in this chapter for each of us who claim to be children of God. When we encounter difficulties and trials in our lives, it is so easy for us to automatically assume that God has lost control. We somehow convince ourselves that the presence of difficulties in our lives is proof of God’s absence. When we see our enemies celebrating their victories over us, we jump to the conclusion that God doesn’t care.

It would have been easy for David to assume that God had abandoned him. After all, Absalom had won the hearts of the people. He had orchestrated a bloodless coup and David was now persona non grata in his own kingdom. David could have come up with a myriad of reasons why God would have wanted to replace him as king but David didn’t have access to the mind of God. He had no idea what God was doing behind the scenes. One of the hardest things for a believer to do is to trust God, regardless of the circumstances. From a human perspective, it all appeared as if Absalom’s plans had succeeded. But the Scriptures would have us remember that God’s plans always trump those of men – each and every time.

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. – Proverbs 16:9 NLT

You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail. – Proverbs 19:21 NLT

The LORD of Heaven's Armies has spoken – who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him? – Isaiah 14:27 NLT

Absalom believed his plan had succeeded – and it had. But only because God had a greater plan in store. While Absalom gloated over his victory from his throne in Jerusalem and David mourned over his fate somewhere along the banks of the Jordan, God was working His plan. He was orchestrating affairs in such a way that both men were in for a surprise as to how this whole affair would turn out. God had chosen David to be king, and Absalom could do nothing to change that fact. He could usurp David’s throne, but not permanently, and only because God had allowed it. David could consider himself defeated, dethroned, and abandoned by God, but he would be wrong. He was still God’s choice to be king. His son, Solomon, would be God’s handpicked successor, not Absalom. And while things looked bleak, God was in full control.

When our circumstances create uncertainty and leave us in a state of doubt and confusion, we are to look to God. He is always on His throne. His power is constant. His will is unavoidable. His plans are unstoppable. His love for us is inescapable. It was during this difficult time in David’s life that he penned the words of Psalm 3. They reflect his trust in God’s unfailing love for him – even in the darkest moments of life.

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.
So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” Interlude

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.

Arise, O Lord!
    Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
    Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
Victory comes from you, O Lord.
    May you bless your people. – Psalm 3

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Lord Had Ordained.

Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.” And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.” Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.” Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people. Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there.” 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 ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom. – 2 Samuel 17:1-14 ESV

It is next to impossible to discern the will of God, unless He chooses to reveal it. All we can do is look at the external circumstances and wonder what it is that He is doing or whether He is doing anything at all. Paul to the believers in Rome, “Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (Romans 11:33 NLT). Solomon, David’s own son, would speak of the unfathomable ways of God in the book of Ecclesiastes. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT). Sometimes it is clear what God is doing. Other times, it is almost impossible for us to even sense His presence. But the Bible paints a picture of God that shows Him intimately involved in His creation and within the lives of men. Because of our limited, earth-bound perspectives and our inability to see beyond the physical dimension in which we live, we fail to see God at work. And even when we sense He might be up to something, we question His ways. But He would have us remember:

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

So when David found himself being forced to abandon the city of Jerusalem because of a military coup orchestrated by his own sin, he had no idea what God was up to. He was left to wonder if God was punishing him and had chosen to give his kingdom to another. Or perhaps, God had something else in store. David had no idea just what God was up to, but he was willing to believe that God was behind all that was happening to him and around him. He had even sent Hushai, one of his personal counselors, back to the city of Jerusalem, to act as a spy within the administration of Absalom. And this decision, while apparently David’s idea, would be used by God to accomplish His will concerning Absalom.

Ahithophel, another one of David’s former advisors, had betrayed him, having helped Absalom in his planning of the coup that would displace David as king. He had become a close confidant and advisor to Absalom. It was he who had given Absalom the advice to publicly humiliate David by sexually assaulting David’s ten concubines on the palace roof. But it is important for us to recall that this event had actually been foretold by God Himself. He had warned David that this very thing would happen, in exactly the manner it happened (2 Samuel 12:11-12). So Ahithopel’s advice to Absalom had actually been the will of God. The Almighty had used this unfaithful, wicked man to accomplish His will concerning David. And now, Ahithophel came to Absalom with yet more advice. But this time, God would choose to use another source to accomplish His will. Ahithophel most likely felt like he was on a role. He had the new king’s ear and it was to his advantage to make sure David was eliminated as a possible threat. So he asked Absalom for permission to take 12,000 men and hunt David down while he was weak and weary. He swore to kill only David and promised Absalom, “Then you will be at peace with all the people” (2 Samuel 17:3 NLT).

But God had other plans. So, while Absalom was pleased with the advice of Ahithophel, for some reason he decided to seek other counsel and turned to Hushai. It is important to remember that David had been the one to send Hushai back to Jerusalem, having told him, “Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice” (2 Samuel 16:34 NLT). And now, God orchestrated things in such a way, that David’s plan would actually happen. Hushai was able to thwart the counsel of Ahithophel, but only because God gave him the opportunity. The text makes it perfectly clear that this was all God’s doing.

For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom! – 2 Samuel 17:14 NLT

Where did Hushai get the idea for his plan? God. Where had Ahithophel gotten the idea for Absalom to do what he did to the ten concubines of David? God. The Lord had ordained all that had happened. He was behind the events taking place. Absalom’s takeover of the kingdom could not have happened without God’s permission. Even Ahithophel’s betrayal of David was all part of God’s plan. And yet, these very thoughts cause a great deal of discomfort and confusion to many. They wrestle with the idea of God either causing or allowing evil to happen. They struggle with questions regarding the free will of man and seeming fatalism involved in the sovereign will of God. Did God cause Ahithophel to betray David? Was God behind Absalom’s plans to overthrow his father’s government? There are aspects regarding the will of God and how He brings it about that we will never fully understand. The ways of God are beyond our capacity to understand or figure out. The capacity to comprehend how He accomplishes His will is way beyond what our finite minds can handle. And yet, just because we can’t discern or explain the ways of God does not mean we should refuse to see Him at work. Moses would have us remember this important reality concerning God:

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! – Deuteronomy 32:4 NLT

We may not understand the ways of God. We may not even approve of how He does things. But who are we to question God? What right do we, the creation, have to disagree with or disapprove of the ways in which the Creator works? The apostle Paul warns us, “Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” (Romans 9:20 NLT). The prophet Isaiah had a similar warning:

"What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, 'Stop, you're doing it wrong!' Does the pot exclaim, 'How clumsy can you be?'” – Isaiah 45:9 NLT

In our desire for autonomy and self-sufficiency, we have bought into the lie that we are somehow in charge of our own fates. That is what led Absalom to do what he did. He had convinced himself to believe that he was a self-made man and in charge of his own future. But he failed to realize that it is God who directs the affairs of men. God does not cause men to sin, but He uses their sinful dispositions to accomplish His divine will. The prophet Isaiah provides us with yet more helpful insights into understanding how God works.

He boasts, “By my own powerful arm I have done this. With my own shrewd wisdom I planned it. I have broken down the defenses of nations and carried off their treasures. I have knocked down their kings like a bull. I have robbed their nests of riches and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs. No one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest.”

But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it? Is the saw greater than the person who saws? Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it? Can a wooden cane walk by itself? – Isaiah 10:13-15 NLT

Our natural tendency is to want to elevate the power of man and to negate the sovereign will of God. Man’s innate desire to be god, is what drives him to reject the power of God. And yet the story of David continues to remind us that our God is in control of all things and at all times. The Lord had ordained the events surrounding David’s life. And He had a perfectly good reason for all that was happening.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Mourning Comes Before Morning.

But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. – 2 Samuel 15:13-29 ESV

As David made his way out of the city of David, he did so in a state of mourning. He headed east toward the Mount of Olives, barefoot and with his head covered. He led a sizeable retinue of household servants, personal body guards, members of his royal administration, and armed soldiers. It is interesting to contrast this scene with the one in which David led the way as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the gates of Jerusalem. At that point, David had been headed in the opposite direction and was in a significantly different mood. He was dancing and leaping, joyfully leading the procession that contained the Ark of God. Now, years later, the Ark was in Jerusalem, but David was on his way out. There was no music, no dancing, and no joy on this occasion. David was on his way out, abandoning his capital and abdicating his throne to his son, Absalom. David, and all those with him, were weeping as they went. And then, to make matters even worse, David received the disappointing news that one of his own counselors, Ahithophel,  had chosen to remain behind and serve Absalom. Not only that, Ahithophel is described as a co-conspirator with Absalom. He was not just switching sides at the end, he had played a role in the entire enterprise, providing Absalom with counsel and advice along the way.

David’s response was simple and it came in the form of a prayer: “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!” (2 Samuel 15:31 NLT). He didn’t rant, rave or hurl invectives against Ahithophel. He simply asked God to turn the wisdom of Ahithophel into foolishness. Then, David did what he could to counter the betrayal of Ahithophel. He asked his good friend, Hushai, to return to the city and act as his eyes and ears, and to serve as an inside source, providing Absalom with advice that directly opposed that of Ahithophel.

“Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.” – 2 Samuel 15:34 NLT

David was down, but not out. He was in mourning, but he was not giving up. He was setting up his own network of spies to provide him with inside information regarding Absalom’s plans. He had evidently prearranged with Abiathar and Zadok, the priests, to use their sons as messengers, providing David with much-needed intel about all that went on in the kingdom while he was in exile. As bleak and bad as things looked, David still had friends. There were still those who were willing to stand beside him at one of the darkest moments in his life. And while David’s actions and demeanor portray a man who has all but given up, it would appear that he is just being realistic. He knows that, for the time being, he has lost his kingdom to his son. He does not know why. He is not yet sure if this is a permanent situation or simply another detour in God’s plan for his life. Rather than risk a pitched battle with Absalom and subject the city of Jerusalem to destruction and its inhabitants to death, David had left of his own free will. He was sad, but still expectant. He was in mourning, but remained hopeful. He put in place measures that would provide him with vital intelligence and allow him to influence the actions of Absalom from the inside.

The days ahead were going to be difficult for David and, at times, very dark. The worst had not yet come. There was going to be more devastating news and difficult circumstances in David’s future. He would be ridiculed, reviled, and rejected as king. He would find himself living in exile from his own kingdom. And yet, in the back of his mind, he would always have to wrestle with the seeming incongruity of his anointing by God to be king and the lightning-fast loss of his kingship. What was God doing? Why was all of this happening? Was it because of his sins? Was it the punishment of God for all he had done concerning Bathsheba and Uriah?

There will be days in the life of every believer that seem to make no sense. We will each find ourselves battling the dark days of the soul that make us question what we have done to offend God. And sometimes, God is slow in giving us answers to our questions or explanations to the seemingly confusing events surrounding our lives. At times, we will find ourselves suffering the ramifications of our own poor decision making. Other times, the consequences of past sins will catch up with us, leaving us confused and conflicted as to what God is doing and why. The days ahead for David were going to be dark and difficult. He would have more questions than answers. And all along the way he would be tempted to either give up in despair or lash out in anger. He would find himself struggling to balance waiting on God with working things out on his own. Should he fight or flee? Should he give up or faithfully wait for God to show up? It is in the trials of life that we find our faith in God tested and our understanding of who He really is exposed as flawed and one-dimensional. David’s circumstances had changed dramatically, but God had not. David’s power had diminished significantly, but not God’s. David was no longer on his throne, but God was. From David’s perspective, it would have been easy to see all as bleak, but God had a different view on things, and He was not yet done with David. Absalom loomed large in David’s life, but he was insignificant to God. Our darkest days can provide the perfect backdrop for the light of God’s goodness, love, power and deliverance to shine.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson