Prov 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”
• Man can make his plans, but ultimately, God’s purpose will prevail.
• David is God’s choice as King of Israel, and he will remain as God’s choice.
Absalom wanted to seize the throne from David, but he will never succeed.
• God’s plan cannot be thwarted. Prov 21:30 “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.”
The last verse we ended with last Sunday reads:
• 2 Sam 15:12 “And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.” It doesn’t look good.
• 15:13-14 - 13A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." 14Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword." David has to flee. It really doesn’t look good.
It doesn’t matter. God’s will has not changed. David remains as King. God’s purpose will prevail.
• The sovereign Lord stills preside. Let me show you. 2 Sam 15:30-37
2 Sam 15:30-31 - But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31Now David had been told, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "O LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness."
• That’s a simple and sincere prayer. “Lord, frustrate their plan. Let Ahithophel’s advice be a foolish one.”
• Right after this prayer, we see God providing a way. God is going to bring in Hushai, David’s friend, to achieve this purpose.
2 Sam 15:32-37 – When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33David said to him, "If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, `I will be your servant, O king; I was your father's servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,' then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel's advice. 35Won't the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king's palace. 36Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear." 37So David's friend Hushai arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.
David arranged for a spy to be positioned near Absalom. He planned for his supporters from within Absalom’s court. He could be kept informed of Absalom’s move.
2 Sam 17:1-14 - Ahithophel said to Absalom, "I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed." 4This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
5 But Absalom said, "Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say." 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, "Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion."
7 Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8 You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. 9 Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, `There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.' 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.
11"So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba-as numerous as the sand on the seashore-be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a piece of it can be found."
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
David prayed and did what he possibly could. We see God doing His will.
Seriously, if we compare the two counsels, it’s difficult to tell if Hushai’s advice is the better one. The author even mentions Ahithophel’s advice as GOOD.
• We believe he must be a wise advisor, working for David and then taken in by Absalom.
• And David has to pray that he gives foolish advice for Absalom.
Ahithophel suggested taking 12,000 men and launch a direct attack. It’s simpler and takes a shorter time to form up.
• Hushai’s advice to rally all the men from the tribes of Israel will take a much longer time and much more work.
In Ahithophel’s plan, he leads. He is not a warrior but an advisor to the King, yet he wanted to lead.
• Possibly because he wanted to kill David personally. He is Bathsheba’s grandfather.
• We do not know how much of this stems from his resentment against David, for breaking up her granddaughter’s marriage and killing his grandson-in-law Uriah.
In Hushai’s plan, Absalom will be personally involved in the battlefield.
• And the Scripture says, “For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.” (17:14)
• If this is God’s will, then Absalom needs to be in the battlefield.
The author seems to suggest that Ahithophel’s plan is the better one – the “good advice” - yet Absalom has decided to go with Hushai’s plan.
• WHY? Because God has determined to frustrate man’s evil plan, and protect His King David. Verse 14 is the sovereign act of God.
• Prov 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
Verse 14 is beyond the control of David. He can plan for a spy to be positioned near Absalom. He can plan for his supporters to be serving within Absalom’s court.
• But he cannot control what Absalom will do and its outcome.
• So are we. That’s a limit to what we can do. We do what we possibly can, and trust in the sovereignty of God to rule over all things.
Psalm 33:10-11 “The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”
• It doesn’t matter if the conspiracy is gaining strength. It doesn’t matter if the following for Absalom keeps on increasing.
• If it is not God’s will, nothing can happen to David. He is God’s choice for the throne and God has not changed His mind.
• No human attempts can thwart the purposes of God. Anything that is against God’s will cannot stand.
God is determined to frustrate man’s way in order to fulfil His purpose.
• This is our hope. This is our trust. This is our confidence. We have nothing to fear. God’s purpose prevails. God’s plan stands firm.
• There will be a fight, no doubt. There will be a battle, no question about that. But David will survive. God has not changed His plan.
We are fighting a spiritual battle with the evil one today, but the outcome has already been determined.
• What the devil meant for evil, God worked it out for good.
• Human plans (that is not of God’s will) will fail. God’s purpose prevails.
Ask Joseph, he will tell you. Whatever man tries to do to you, God has taken them into account and factored these things into His plan for your life.
• They are not accidents. There are no coincidences. Nothing happens in our lives without His knowledge.
Even Absalom’s death in the battlefield was noted by the author in an interesting way.
• 2 Sam 18:9 “Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair while the mule he was riding kept on going.” It’s rare but it happens. You can thwart God’s plan.
• And that’s how he is going to die, hanging on that oak tree, to be killed by Joab and his armour-bearers.
Nothing can thwart God’s will. His purposes cannot be frustrated by man’s ways.
• God knows what’s coming because He plans what’s coming and He performs what He plans.
ISAIAH 46:3-11
3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all you who remain of the house of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,
and have carried since your birth.
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
5 "To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
6 Some pour out gold from their bags
and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,
and they bow down and worship it.
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;
they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
From that spot it cannot move.
Though one cries out to it, it does not answer;
it cannot save him from his troubles.
8 "Remember this, fix it in mind,
take it to heart, you rebels.
9 Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.
11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; (Cyrus, Persia) from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that will I bring about;
what I have planned, that will I do.
Be encouraged today. No matter how life unfolds for you, trust Him. God’s purpose prevails.
