David is restored back as king but at an incredible cost personally and a great cost nationally.
2 Samuel 17: Hushai Saves David
1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
2 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,
3 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."
4 And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then Absalom said, "Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say."
6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, "Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak."
7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good."
8 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.
9 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.'
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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."
14 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.
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 18: Absalom Killed
1 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you."
3 But the men said, "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city."
4 The king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.
8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
11 Joab said to the man who told him, "What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt."
12 But the man said to Joab, "Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, 'For my sake protect the young man Absalom.'
13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof."
14 Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.
15 And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument to this day.
David Hears of Absalom's Death
19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run and carry news to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies."
20 And Joab said to him, "You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king's son is dead."
21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran.
22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?"
23 "Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.
25 The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." And he drew nearer and nearer.
26 The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, "See, another man running alone!" The king said, "He also brings news."
27 The watchman said, "I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man and comes with good news."
28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "All is well." And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king."
29 And the king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was."
30 And the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still.
David's Grief
31 And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, "Good news for my lord the king! For the LORD has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you."
32 The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man."
33 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
Things to think about…
1. Note that Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom was to kill his father David, 2Sam 17:1-4, and the advice seemed good to Absalom. David’s heart however was to spare the life of his son Absalom. Ambition can be so potent that it rules over even natural affection. Christ softens a hardened heart where the hearts of the children are restored back to their fathers. Ahithophel of course has no problem in killing the man who brought pain and shame upon his family.
2. Note again in 2Sam 17:14 that it was the Lord that wanted to bring harm upon Absalom. Although David had not disciplined this man the way he needed to be, Absalom in his heart had rebelled against the God of Israel in exalting himself as king over his father David. The advice of Hushai the Archite, David’s man on the inside, is taken and Ahithophel’s advice is ignored. Note that the text says Ahithophel’s good advice was ignored 2Sam17:18. It was good in that it would have succeeded. Even though David was unwise to leave Jerusalem and capitulate to his son, the Lord still intends to deliver David because he loves him. Ahithophel’s advice is not followed, he is shamed because of his pride and betrayal and goes out and hangs himself. Ahithophel is a type of Judas as David is a type of Christ. His counsel was turned into folly as David had prayed
3. The woman in 2Sam17:19 though she is not named follows the heart and example of Rahab by hiding these two men who deliver a message that saves David. Like Paul’s nephew in the NT, we don’t know the names of faithful servants of the Lord, but their names are written in the Book of Life.
4. Absalom sets Amasa over his army, 2Sam17:25. Amasa is the cousin of Joab – David’s commander. Absalom tries to mimic his moves and leadership to look like his father David. This of course comes to no avail. Joab will stop at nothing to honour the king – even murder his own nephew (Absalom) and cousin (Amasa) as we shall see later.
5. Note the place name where David stops, Mahanaim, 2Sam 17:27. This is in Hebrew called “two camps” and was where Jacob stopped before his confrontation with his brother Esau. That encounter ended peacefully. This family encounter would not be the same. But David like Jacob makes divisions with his people. God’s presence is with those who are wise in process and loyal in faith. Look at their names that are mentioned here – Shobi, Machir and Barzillai, vs 28. These men supplied out of their own provisions to provide for David and the people with him. Jesus was also supported by godly women who provided for His needs. Even great men who have provided for others need support and help. David does not refuse the support in his hour of need. These names are recorded by the Holy Spirit as a testament to their grace and sacrifice.
6. David is shrewd by dividing up his army into three divisions with men who are very experienced in war and who are fiercely loyal to him, Joab - his overall commander, Abishai - Joab’s brother and Ittai the Gittite (from Gath) who had followed David and fought with him when Saul had chased him many years before. Absalom didn’t stand a chance really. Yet we know the pride of young men blinds them to their true condition and folly. David is wise and submits to the counsel of his men by staying out of the battle to increase his chances of staying alive.
7. Look at David’s words once his leaders have said for him not to go into the battle, “Whatever seems best to you, I will do”, 2Sam 18:4. A good leader submits to wise counsel and advice, even if it is against his own desires.
8. Israel was fighting itself. What a tragedy when brothers in the Lord fight. In this case 20,000 died, mostly through exhaustion and exposure – 2Sam18:7,8. It reminds me of the American civil war when both sides were praying to the same God to deliver them and help their cause – blind folly. 620,000 Americans lost their lives in the American Civil war. This is about the same number the Americans who have lost their lives in all wars since. These tragic events were the outworking of David’s sin with Bathsheba. A true tragedy by any measure.
9. Absalom is caught by his hair, the very thing that was an outward symbol of his vain pride. Joab kills him even after David told him and the other two commanders not to kill him. Joab was thinking rationally, and David was thinking emotionally. Joab, this harsh man takes 3 javelins when one would have done the trick. He was the harsh eldest son of Zeruiah, David’s older sister. He would later pay for his rebellion against the king. David laments over the loss of his son Absalom. The very man he wouldn’t see face to face for 5 years and allowed family conflict to fester as a result. David loved the Lord but was at times ruled by his emotions and passions, often to the point of personal blindness.
10. There is a pillar in Jerusalem called Absalom’s pillar 2 Sam 18:18. No -one can be certain whether this is the same monument that the man himself set up for his own honour. If so it is an example of his rebellion and pride. When I was in Israel in 2017 there was a homeless man living behind it and a lot of rubbish around it. A modern monument to the spiritual decay and poverty of the original owner.
11. The running of these two men, Ahimaaz and the Cushite show 2 different desires, 2Sam 18:19-32. Ahimaaz wants to honour the king and he knows his love is for Absalom and just shares that the war has finished and does not mention what he knows of Absalom. The Cushite however has no regard or understanding and tells it all. How we share news is important. Discerning the time and details require discernment and discipline.
12. David shows that his emotions are about to overrule his reason yet again. He weeps bitterly for Absalom, vs 33. He no doubt is burdened by the guilt and shame that his initial act with Bathsheba has brought the tragic events surrounding Absalom’s death.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
The reading for Sunday came from 2 Samuel 12:1-15.
1. Often we don’t see things others see. Jay used the example of the “74” in the colour-blind example. He couldn’t see the number distinctly until it was pointed out. We see Nathan convince David of his sin with Bathsheba. What process does he use to convince him? Have you ever employed this style and logic to convince people of something you believe to be true?
2. The immediate effects of David sin as declared by Nathan the prophet start straight away. The child dies. The child was innocent. Yet God took him. Innocent people, especially children feel the affects of the sins of their parents. How do we remedy this? Discuss.
3. Encouraging news is that Nathan had told David in vs 13 “"The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” This amazing grace is giving to all those who have accepted Christ as their Saviour from sin. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Do you live in this freedom?
4. We all need spiritual mentors like Nathan in our lives. Do you have one? More than this, do you have someone that encourages you – like a Barnabas, as well as someone you are teaching like Paul did for Timothy?
Prayer Points
1. Clarity of life and freedoms through to the end of the year.
2. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points.
1. Solar on the roof, working very well and saving the church money
2. Ability to meet this Sunday, albeit with masks.
3. New visitors to the church on Sunday.
4. The unity and grace on display at CBC.
Announcements
1. Masks to be worn this Sunday. Freedom in the café.
2. PlayPatch for toddlers at church, Fridays 9:30-11am. Please get the word out. See Maddison for details.
3. Recharge Youth – 6:30-8:30pm. Parents to contact Melinda for details.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
