May 17: 2 Samuel 16-18

May 17, 2 Samuel 16-18

2 Samuel 16 We are back to David fleeing for his life from Absalom. Ziba was the servant of Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s crippled son), and he brought to David a great amount of supplies for him and his people that were fleeing with him. David asked him why he brought the supplies, and Ziba implied that it was his idea. David then inquired about Mephibosheth, and Ziba said that Mephibosheth said, “Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.” David did another foolish thing, and judged too quickly with only half the story - and gave away everything that he had previously given to Mephibosheth, namely all his land and servants. 

As David and his men are walking, this guy named Shimei is walking along side them and cursing David for the blood on his hands and that the Lord was avenging him. Abishai, David’s loyal servant, wanted to go and kill Shimei for mocking the king. David told him not to as the Lord would have vengeance. It is highly likely that David is still regretting the sins he committed with Bathsheba and the results of it. 

Absalom now enters Jerusalem with all of his followers and up walks Hushai (remember he was David’s friend and counselor sent to spy on Absalom) and Absalom questions his loyalty. Hushai responds that since he served his father the king, he will now serve the son, the king. Then Absalom turns to Ahithophel (Absalom’s counselor) and seeks his counsel on what to do next. His council was to go have sex in public with David’s concubines (that were left behind to tend to the house). So, they pitched a tent for Absalom on the rooftop and Absalom did exactly his council. The intent was for the Israelites to see who was really king. A couple of points of irony here - Ahithophel was at one time David’s counselor and another is that this may have been the exact rooftop that David saw Bathsheba from…

2 Samuel 17 Ahithophel was on a roll, so he offers more advice to Absalom… Grab 12,000 men and let’s go attack David now, while he is wearied from traveling - with a personal promise to kill the king. They all liked the advice. But Absalom wanted to hear out what Hushai had to say, and it is a God thing that he did, otherwise David could have probably been wiped out. Hushai extrapolated that David was a wise and mighty warrior that would not fall for such a war tactic, and would be able to rally a bunch of troops. Instead, gather all the Israelites against him, and Absalom goes with and draw him in. And the clincher: “For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.” God was working behind the scenes to accomplish His Sovereign will.

Hushai went and told one of the priests what to report to David, and one of Absalom’s men saw them conspiring. They went and were hidden in a well by a lady and their lives were spared. 

Tragically, when Ahithophel learned that his counsel was not followed, he went and got his house in order and hung himself. 

David and his people continued to travel and they were weary and hungry and thirsty…

2 Samuel 18 David encouraged the men who were with him and got a battle plan together. He sent them out with 3 different leaders, including Joab. They refused to let David go to battle with them, as he was worth 10,000 of them. David’s final words to all of them, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” David did not want harm to come to his son, even though his own son was trying to kill him. The first battle was devastating to Absalom’s side, some 20,000 men died.

And Absalom ‘happened’ to come across David’s men as he was riding on his mule. With his long hair, his head was caught in a tree as his donkey rode off - he was literally hanging from the tree. One of Joab’s men saw him and reported it to Joab - but he was unwilling to kill Joab because of what David had said. Joab went and threw 3 javelins into his heart, and then Joab’s men took him down and killed him. Joab blew the trumpet. It was over. We learn here also that Absalom had set up a pillar in his name, because he had no son to keep his name in remembrance. Sad. 

News had to get to David. Joab assigned a Cushite to go to tell David, but Ahimaaz wanted to tell him. Joab sent the Cushite, and Ahimaaz ran after to tell him as well. When they arrived, David asked both of the them the same question, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?”  The Cushite was the one who told him that Absalom was dead and David was beside himself with grief.

To sum it all up:

• Don’t be too quick to judge or react when you are emotional and only hear one part of the story…
• God is always working - sometimes we see Him working and other times it feels as though He is not. Looking at these stories should remind us when it is crazy difficult that God is still Sovereign and will handle it all His way, even when we may be running from our enemies.