Counsel You Can Depend On

Counsel You Can Depend On

2 Samuel 16:15-17:29   

 

Illus. Help!

 

            As we pick back up in our study of 2 Samuel this morning, we turn to 2 Samuel 16, we continue our study of the life of King David. At this point our study is centered on the fallout between David and his son. After a season of sin, tragedy, and bitterness, unforgiveness, and conspiracy in David’s family, we learned in chapter 15 that David’s son Absalom had turned on him.

            For four years (2 Samuel 15:7) David’s son Absalom, after being estranged from David for a season, begins stirring up the people of Israel against David. While David was king, Absalom began pointing out David’s flaws, what he wasn’t doing, and made people to believe that he would deal with people favorable  if he were king. In chapter 15 verse six, we learned that Absalom had “stolen the hearts of the people.”

            It was then that Absalom turned on David. He turned people against David and had them declare him as king. Chapter 15 continued with us seeing one of David’s most trusted advisors turning on him and siding with his son. David then learned that Absalom, his trusted advisor Ahithophel, and all the people Absalom had stirred up against him were coming to attack David in the city; David ended up fleeing.

            He and all his household, except for ten concubines, fled the city. Many of his servants, men of war, and faithful followers went with him as well. Certain priests, as well as another trusted counselor name Hushai began going with him out of the city. But David told the priests to return. And when his counselor, Hushai the Archite came to David expressing his desire to leave the city with him, David told him to return to Jerusalem.

            He wanted Hushai back in the city because he had learned that Ahithophel was on his son’s side. He wanted Hushai there to foil the advice of Ahithophel, and to report to David what he is hearing. Hushai then, was a secret agent, a spy for David and he would posture himself as an advisor to Absalom, David’s son.

            In chapter 15 verse 31, we saw David pray this prayer to the Lord about Ahithophel, “And David said, ‘Lord, please make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.’” In the beginning of chapter 16, we learned more about David’s journey out of the city. He was told (falsely) that another friend had turned on him, then as he continued on his journey a many began to throw rocks at and curse him. In verse 14, we learn that once David had arrived in the wilderness he was exhausted, and refreshed himself there, and that is where we pick up our story in chapter 16 verse 15 this morning, were we see David’s son, Absalom seeking receiving counsel, but it was not counsel he could depend on…as the story goes we will see things go from bad to worse for him.

 

Read:  2 Samuel 16:15-23

 

            Verses 15 to 19, give the details of how the counsel David sent back into the city, Hushai, was able to work his way into Absalom’s good graces. Absalom asked why Hushai was not with David, and Hushai responded, “No! For whomever the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain. Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.” He was careful with his words, he said he would remain with the king the Lord had chosen, and he felt that he should serve in the presence of his son. That was acceptable enough to Absalom, and we will see his counsel come into play in the next chapter.

            In verse 20, after entering Jerusalem, Absalom ask Ahithophel a question. “Give your advice. What should we do?” Ahithophel was David’s counselor, one of David’s most trusted counselors, and how Absalom is asking for advice from him. When Absalom says the word “advice,” it is a word that means counsel. Ahithophel certainly did counsel him, but it was not good counsel. It was not counsel that regarded, or was rooted in the right things. That said, I want to look at the counsel we seek in our lives personally. How do can we be sure that we are receiving counsel we can depend on? From these verses, I want to offer three necessary factors that help us in discerning whether the counsel we receive, is counsel we can depend on. What it regards, what it is rooted in, and what it is reliant on.

 

1. Always Regard What God Has Revealed

 

2 Samuel 16:20-22, Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

 

• The counsel Absalom receives here comes from Ahithophel, and he was a man who was regarded for his wise counsel.

 

• Counselors are seen the Bible, giving advice to those who were responsible for making decisions. In Exodus 18, when Moses was leading the Israelites, he received counsel from his father-in-law, Jethro. In 1 Kings 12, the newly appointed king Rehoboam sought the counsel of the elders and his friends.

 

• Up to this point, David had looked to Ahithophel believing him to give counsel he could depend on, and now, after Ahithophel had turned on David, Absalom is doing the same.

 

1 Chronicles 27:33, Ahithophel was counselor to the king; and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.

 

• With Absalom seeking to set himself up on David’s throne and establish himself as king of Israel, he arrived in Jerusalem and then asks Ahithophel, what should we do now?

 

• Remember, David had prayed that the Lord would make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, and here is the first advice he gives, he tells him to do something so outrageous, so offensive, that it would cement his rebellion against his father David, and show everyone he was in power.

 

• He advises Absalom to sleep with the 10 concubines who David had left behind at the palace when he fled Jerusalem. We have looked at the fact that David was wrong to have so many wives and concubines the first place, he had built his family on a faulty foundation. And when David directed them to stay behind, thinking they would be safe, he exposed them to danger.

 

• This was a practice that was often seen amongst ancient near easter kings, taking over their household their wives, and eliminating the men from their family.

 

• What Ahithophel advised was not only advice that was against his earthly father, but was advice that went against God the father.

 

• Concubines were “secondary” wives in those days. The Bible is very specific about a man sleeping with his father’s wives, and what Absalom was advised to do, was a great sin.

 

• Ahithophel was advising Absalom to make himself repulsive in the sight of all Israel.

 

• So, they pitched a tent on the roof of David’s palace, and Absalom went for it.

 

• Sadly, it is a fulfillment of the prophecy that Nathan gave to David after his great sin with Bathsheba. That evil was going to rise up from his own family and is going to do this terrible thing publicly (2 Samuel 12:11-12).

 

2 Samuel 16:23, Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.

 

• This is an important statement to circle because Ahithophel was highly esteemed, he had a reputation of wisdom, of one who was excellent at counseling.

 

• His reputation was so regarded, that when he gave advice in those days, it was taken as though one inquired the word of God.

 

• In other words, when he spoke, it was just like God was speaking…What Ahithophel says, go with it, he got it from God…Or so people thought.

 

• The reality is, here he was off….Way off.

 

Illus. What happened?

 

• Something changed in Ahithophel, and while we can speculate as to why, what we don’t need to speculate on was that he was giving bad advice? How do we know this? Because his counsel did not regard what God had revealed.

 

• The Lord had clearly spoken about sexual immorality, about sleeping with another man’s wife, about sleeping with one’s father’s wife, about incest, and how those action were looked upon in God’s eyes. Here, Ahithophel, disregards the word of the Lord.

 

• I think what he advises is wrapped up in the question… Absalom phrased the question to Ahithophel this way, “give YOUR advice,” that is just it, it was his advice alone, and based upon his counsel, it was clear he had not inquired of the Lord.

 

• This helps you and I when seeking counsel in our own lives. Is it counsel that regards what God has revealed?

 

• Is it counsel that points you to God’s truth, what the Lord has to say on the subject?

 

Illus. In Matthew 7:24-29, at the end of Jesus’ sermon on the mount, He said that those who build their lives on His word are the ones who are like a house built on the rock. If we do not, we are like a house built on the sand, the house that is destroyed in the storm. 

 

Proverbs 19:21, Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the advice of the Lord will stand.

Illus. Win.

 

Hebrews 2:1, For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

 

Isaiah 40:8, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

 

Illus. Pretty sure.

 

1. Is Rooted in What Pleases Him

 

2 Samuel 17:1-5, Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. And I will attack him while he is weary and exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike and kill the king when he is alone, and I will bring all the people back to you. The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace.” And the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel. Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what he has to say.” 

 

• Ahithophel continued to advice Absalom and as he does, he tells Absalom that they need to strike David immediately. They need to set out right out and pursue him that very night.

 

• His advice was the get David while he was exhausted, while he least expected it. Ahithophel wanted to be the ringleader of it all and said, “I will strike and kill the king when he is alone.”

 

• It is interesting that Ahithophel acknowledged that David was the real king in that statement, but also revealing that he had completely turned on him.

 

• Ahithophel seems to be rooted in and advising in the direction of bitterness.

 

Hebrews 12:15, See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.

 

• After hearing Ahithophel’s plan, Absalom seems to like it. It was actually a good plan if they wanted to take David out. We know that David was indeed on his heels and was weary.

 

• But David had prayed that the Lord would make Ahithophel’s counsel foolish and here, he does just that through Hushai the spy, who ends up being called in.

 

• Absalom called for Hushai, “let’s hear what he has to say about this.”

 

2 Samuel 17:6-10

 

• Hushai does exactly what David had sent him there to do; to foil the advice of Ahithophel.

 

• Hushai know how people regarded the advice of Ahithophel, with that in mind, Hushai said, “this time, the advice of Ahithophel is not good…”
• In terms of a battle plan, Ahithophel was likely giving a good plan, but Hushai was there to interfere, and here he does just that.

 

• First, he appeals to the well-known, well-documented depiction of David and his mighty men. He says, “they are warriors, they are fierce, they are like a momma bear whose cubs were taken from her. Your father is an experienced, he is an expert, and if you send Ahithophel and these men out to him, he will take them out and everyone will hear about it. Once they hear about it, fear is going to spread, you will be defeated if you follow Ahithophel’s plan.

 

2 Samuel 17:11-14, But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that you personally go into battle. Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the valley until not even a pebble is found there.”

 

• Hushai advised that Ahithophel lead the charge. Gather all of Israel to you Absalom. You don’t need the people to see a counselor going to against a warrior like your dad,  they need to see a willing king personally go into battle.

 

• Take him out, and all the men with him.

 

• In Hushai’s counsel, he removed Ahithophel as the leader of the military attack, and put Absalom in as the leader.

 

2 Samuel 17:14, Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the Lord to bring disaster on Absalom.

 

• It was Ahithophel’s advice that was always favored and regarded the highest, in this instance, the Bible notes that it was a good plan given, but Lord had ordained for the advice of Ahithophel to fail.

 

• Hushai did this, by rooting the plan he had advised, in Absalom’s pride.

 

• Many commentators note that Hushai appealed to Absalom’s vanity.  The plan was rooted in puffing up Absalom’s pride, appealing to his vanity, and he took that counsel, though if he wanted to take David out, the plan of Ahithophel was likely a better plan.

 

Genesis 3:1-5

 

2 Timothy 4:3-4, For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (NIV)

 

• When Paul wrote, “have their ears tickled,” it is translated also, “itching ears.” He is referring specifically to a desire in people to hear something pleasing to them, rather than what is true, or truly beneficial.

 

Illus. What is that?

 

Psalm 1:1-3, Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by [b]streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

 

• What is true and beneficial is not what is rooted in what pleases me, or you, but rather, that which is rooted in what pleases the Lord.

 

• Counsel, advise, and wisdom that you can depend on will be rooted in what pleases Him.

 

Romans 12:1-2, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

• This is key for us in discerning counsel we can depend on, asking the question, what is it rooted in?

 

• It is pleasing to the Lord, or pleasing to self despite the Lord?

 

Isaiah 43:7, Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.

 

• Wisdom you can depend on, will point you to what pleases the Lord…His good, pleasing, and perfect will and is rooted in surrender of self and to Him.

 

III.   Directs You to Reliance on Him All the Way to The End

 

• As the chapter closes, Hushai sends word of the plan that was in place for Absalom’s attack, to the priests David had previously stationed in Israel.

 

• Hushai tells the priests about the plan, they would give the information to an unnamed female servant, and she would give the information to the sons of the priests who would go and give David the information.

 

• They advised David to go on the move, and David set out and crossed the Jordan river into the wilderness.

 

• When Ahithophel hear the news, that his counsel was not taken, he ended up taking his own life.

 

• He was once a trusted advisor to David, but things had changed quickly.

 

• It is believed that in Psalm 41, David wrote these words in reference to him and in response to his actions…

 

Psalm 41:7-13, All who hate me whisper together against me; they plot my harm against me, saying,  “A wicked thing is poured out upon him, so that when he lies down, he will not get up again.” Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. But You, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up, that I may repay them. By this I know that You are pleased with me, because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and You place me in Your presence forever. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.

 

• David notes in Psalm 41 that his close friend, his counselor, had turned against him.

 

• In the final verses of chapter 17, we see Absalom in full pursuit of David. And we see David again in the wilderness, trusting in the Lord.

 

• In that place, again on the run for His life, the Lord brought food and supplies to David from men who lived in neighboring nations.

 

• In Psalm 41, David leaned upon and looked to the Lord.

 

• We know that David was crying out to the Lord during this time, relying on Him…

 

Psalm 3:3-6, But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying out to the Lord with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.

 

• David was crying out to the Lord. David had prayed that the counsel of Ahithophel would be made foolish. David, through his actions counsels us to depend on God all the way to the end.

 

Psalm 32:8, I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you.

 

• Wisdom you can depend on will direct you to rely on Him.

 

Jeremiah 33:3, ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

 

Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

 

Illus. Lean on.

 

John 14:16-17, I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

 

John 14:26-27, The Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.

 

 

 

2 Samuel 16:15-17:29