Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 17
Helpful thoughts:
- The advice of Ahithophel sounded right in the minds of Absalom and also to all the elders of Israel.
- Absalom had been working on this for over four years.
- It may have looked or felt like the whole government shifted overnight.
- Hushai’s counsel would allow time for David to prepare and required Absalom to be personally involved in the battle, risking his own life.
- Perhaps Ahithophel was aware of what would come of Absalom’s choice to follow Hushai’s counsel instead of his own. He preferred suicide to being held responsible for a plan to overthrow King David. His suicide was a selfish act even if it was used to communicate what would come of Absalom.
- Shobi was a prince over the Ammonites. They pledged their loyalty to David during this time of distress.
Questions to consider:
- Why did Hushai’s counsel sound better to all the people (Verse 14)? What does this teach us about the sovereignty of God and the hearts of man?
- Is it OK that the female servant lied to protect the messengers? How does the accuracy of the accounts (For better or worse) give us reason to be even more sure of the honesty of the Scriptures? How does this remind us who the real hero of the story is?