2 Samuel 17:14: “So 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 purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.”

June 26th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The advice Ahithophel gave Absalom for how to defeat his father was good, meaning it probably would have succeeded. But God did not want Absalom to succeed. David was the Lord’s anointed and He was protecting him. So Absalom asked for more advice from Hushai, and he and his men preferred Hushai’s advice to Ahithophel’s.

Hushai’s counsel contradicted Ahithophel’s by appealing to the huge ego of Absalom, the rebel king. First, Ahithophel advised taking 12,000 men and going at once to kill David. But Hushai advised they wait and gather a much larger, more impressive army. Second, Ahithophel counseled that Absalom should remain behind, safe. But Hushai advised Absalom to lead the massive army into battle, which appealed to his desire to be seen. So safety in numbers and ego convinced the rebel king to reject the better counsel of Ahithophel.

We see God’s discipline in this for the good of both the rebel king and the rebel counselor. God is still present for us in the midst of chastening and discipline, because God isn’t out to destroy us but to correct us and turn us back to Himself through repentance. God allows problems and struggles to invade our lives so that we will not stray from His path for us. He isn’t angry with us, but disciplines us so we can grow to be spiritually mature. Neither of these 2 rebels submitted to the correction of the Lord and both died as a result. God wants so much better than that for all of us. William Penn (1644–1718) said it this way:

The sturdiest tree is not found in the shelter of the forest but high upon some rocky crag, where its daily battle with the elements shapes it into a thing of beauty. No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.

“LORD, help us today to submit our lives to Your correction.”