Some commentators believe that when David wrote the words, ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies’; he had in mind the events about which we have read in today’s passage in v28-29 of 2 Samuel 17 and bear in mind that this is not Moses and his people’s wilderness, here we are talking of another wilderness experience in King David’s time. Driven into the wilderness by his own son Absalom’s rebellion, David and his followers and loyalties became desperately hungry, thirsty and weary in their hiding place. God came to his aid, however, and directed to him three men–Shobi, Machir and Barzillai –who ‘brought beddings and bowls’ (so that David could wash and refresh himself) as well as ‘articles of pottery …wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese …’ it is interesting to know that Shobi ben Nahash was the son of King Nahash of Ammon and brother of his predecessor Hanun who was deposed by the Israelites under King David, Shobi was made king of Ammon in Hanun’s place and became a loyal vessel of David’s and showed kindness to David, Machir on the other hand was of Manassite (son of Manasseh, grandson of Joseph and father of Gilead) family who helped David when he was in exile. You can imagine how King David must have rubbed his eyes in astonishment to see clearly as he saw God’s unexpected providence for him in preparation of a ‘table in the presence of his enemies’ as Shobi, Machir and Barzillia gave these gifts to him in the time of his greatest need and desire just as He often does it for us in our own time of need. Can you cast your mind now back at this moment to something ‘special’ that God has done for you to demonstrate His tender Love and care? I can. Pause to recall it now–how sad that we forget such times so soon as time passes by. Too bad and unfortunate! Let us begin to learn how to cast our minds back to all the events of divine providence that God has made available for us! You see, God never does anything ‘special’ in our lives just for the sake of the passing hour–it is done also as a pledge for the future. It is as though God is saying: I’ll do this for you now, not only to meet your need, but that you might always know you are the object of My love heart.’ Do we always see our God in this light? And I say again –what a tragedy that we forget so soon. That is why new dangers startle us into fear and dismay because we do not use what He has done for us of old to encourage ourselves in another time of need believing that as He did it of old, He will also do it of new and of the future to come. We have forgotten the past mercies! I don’t doubt that David’s calmness and confidence in God was due, in no small measure, to the fact that whenever he faced a new problem, he remembered vividly the past hour deliverance. So let us always learn to act like David believing God will provide for us according to our needs in line with His Will for us!

Now let us read 2 Samuel 17:1-29; Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me choose 12,000 men and I will set out and pursue David this night. 2 I will come upon him while he is exhausted and weak, and cause him to panic; all the people with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone. 3 I will bring back all the people to you. [The removal of] the man whom you seek is the assurance that all will return; and all the people will be at peace. 4 And what he said pleased Absalom well and all the elders of Israel. 5 Absalom said, Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says. 6 When Hushai came, Absalom said to him, Ahithophel has counseled thus. Shall we do what he says? If not, speak up. 7 And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For, said Hushai, you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are embittered and enraged like a bear robbed of her whelps in the field. And your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is hidden even now in some pit or other place; and when some of them are overthrown at the first, whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the followers of Absalom. 10 And even he who is brave, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and that those who are with him are brave men. 11 Therefore I counsel that all [the men of] Israel be gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in your own person. 12 So shall we come upon [David] some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew settles [unseen and unheard] on the ground; and of him and of all the men with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the ravine until not one pebble is left there. 14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel. For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. 15 Then said Hushai to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus have I counseled. 16 Now send quickly and tell David, Lodge not this night at the fords [at the Jordan] of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up and all the people with him. 17 Now [the youths] Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at Einrogel, for they must not be seen coming into the city. But a maidservant went and told them, and they went and told King David. 18 But a lad saw them and told Absalom; but they left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they went down into it. 19 And the woman spread a covering over the well’s mouth and spread ground corn on it; and the thing was not discovered. 20 For 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 went over the brook of water. When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 After they had departed, the boys came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said, Arise and pass quickly over the river Jordan; for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you. 22 David arose and all the people with him and passed over the Jordan. By daybreak, not one was left who had not crossed. 23 But when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, went home to his city, put his household in order, and hanged himself and died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of an [Ishmaelite] named Ithra, who married Abigail daughter of Nahash, [half sister of David and] sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash of Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim 28 Brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched [pulse—seeds of peas and beans], 29 Honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of cows for David and the people with him to eat; for they said, The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.

BIG IDEA: IS THAT THE SOVEREIGN GOD PROVIDENTIALLY PROTECTS THE MESSIANIC LINE OF DAVID: Remember what is at stake in preserving David here. David is on the run and vulnerable to being wiped out by the forces now united under the leadership of Absalom. But the Providence of God intervenes such that the normal strategy of pursue and annihilate due to weakness is delayed to the point that David is able to refresh and strengthen his troops in preparation for battle. This divine delay which comes in diverse ways is what men terms to be disappointments sometimes unknown that it is part of God’s way to bring His Will to pass! REVIEW: – Promise of God – 2 Samuel 7 – Birth of Solomon – 2 Samuel 12:24-25 – Prayer of David – 2 Samuel 15:31 – Key Verse: Proverbs 21:1 [Apple family illustration] 5 KEY PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR US: I. (:1-4) AGGRESSIVE PLAN OF AHITHOPHEL SHOULD HAVE DOOMED DAVID and thus hinder God’s plan to bring the Messiah through his lineage AND THUS THE FUTILITY OF OPPOSING GOD, because whenever man’s plan endangers God’s, God must rendered such man’s evil plan futile: A. (:1) here in verse one we see how the Strategic Strike Force Can Move Quickly; “Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me choose 12,000 men and I will set out and pursue David this night.” B. (:2) Surprise Attack Will Isolate David for the Kill; “2 I will come upon him while he is exhausted and weak, and cause him to panic; all the people with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone.” This approach will save much needless bloodshed; there will be no appetite or opportunity for a prolonged civil war; By killing David before he has a chance to regroup and prepare his defenses the battle will be over before it starts. C. (:3) Slaying David Will Unify the Nation Under Leadership of Absalom; “3 I will bring back all the people to you. [The removal of] the man whom you seek is the assurance that all will return; and all the people will be at peace.” It is not as if the peace of the land is a high priority for the rebel who has mounted this coup against the king and his loyal followers. D. (:4) Shrewd Counsel Well Received; “4 And what he said pleased Absalom well and all the elders of Israel.” It is only the Providence of God that could frustrate such a logical and strategic plan put forth by a counselor who was viewed as speaking words on a par with God. No problem for Absalom killing God’s Anointed = his very father. Study Psalm 2; here in this Psalm you learn how our God deals with counsels that challenge His Will! So make effort to read this Psalm.

We use the word subversive here to denote that Ahithophel counsel against King David is not in God’s Will and as such God is not going to allow it, which is exactly what happens to many of our plans and pursuits which we term or regard as failures because God did not allow them because they hinders His divine Will for us! Illustration: What happens to your prayers? Cf. helium balloons going up in the air. Helium is less dense than air. Helium has 0.0114 pounds per cubic foot. For a one cubic foot helium filled balloon , gravity pulls the down on the helium with a force of 0.0114 pounds while the air pushes up with a force equal to the weight of the air the helium displaced, or 0.0807 pounds. So when God’s force is greater than man’s force, the reality is that man will fail in all his efforts! Note that an Archite is a native of Archi of a region in Italy. A. (:5-6) Opportunity for Hushai to Mislead Absalom; “5 Absalom said, Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says. 6 When Hushai came, Absalom said to him, Ahithophel has counseled thus. Shall we do what he says? If not, speak up.” Usually it is wise to seek alternate opinions and weigh the value of different counsel. But sometimes in the multitude of counselors there is found much error! Once the correct counsel has been received it can be dangerous to entertain other options. (Imagine how some Christians search out counsel that is appealing to them.) This was a unique case where God was at work to confuse the minds and work out His providential plan. This is why we have to be very careful of considering too many counsels. Hushai had worked his way into Absalom’s good graces for just such a time as this. This is why our lack of bible words makes us lacking useful ways of considering issues because there is nothing that is not in the bible. Here is it right to regard Hushai’s counsel as misleading? Knowing to what degree Ahithophel’s plan will affect God’s plan, first it will affect the lineage of the coming Messiah! Second man’s salvation as planned by God will be distorted or greatly delayed in spite of the fact that prophecies, which are God’s Word is already out and cannot be changed: God said let all men be liars…; this is why when God make man’s plans not to work, know that many things are involved! B. (:7) Negative Assessment of Ahithophel’s Plan; “7 And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.” Not speaking against Ahithophel in general … just “this time” Tricky deal since no one was accustomed to speak against wisdom of Ahithophel. Do we still regard this moves of Hushai to be tricky? Note that by the standards of Israel no one dare speak against Ahithophel with his good knowledge of the law and live as he is King David counselor but he later aided Absalom to betray and rebelliously overthrow David. C. (:8-10) Scare Tactics Based on Reputation of David and His Valiant Men; “8 For, said Hushai, you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are embittered and enraged like a bear robbed of her whelps in the field. And your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is hidden even now in some pit or other place; and when some of them are overthrown at the first, whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the followers of Absalom. 10 And even he who is brave, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and that those who are with him are brave men.” 1. Overstating the Danger! “Moreover, Hushai said, ‘You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.’” 2. Possibility of a Counter Trap “And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.” 3. Fighting Reputation of David and His Men! “And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men.” Anyone hearing all of these words surely must be afraid. D. (:11-13) Appeal to Superior Numbers and Vanity of Absalom; 1. (:11a) Wait for United Front of Superior Numbers “But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea in abundance” 2. (:11b) Wait for Absalom to Personally Lead Troops into Battle “and that you personally go into battle” 3. (:12) Anticipation of Complete Slaughter “So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him 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.” 4. (:13) No Possibility of David Finding Safe Refuge “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 small stone is found there.” Deffinbaugh/commentator: We might be inclined to minimize the difficulty of Hushai’s task, as though Absalom and the elders of Israel must embrace Hushai’s counsel no matter how foolish it might be. We are therefore inclined to think of Hushai’s counsel as groundless and foolish, but accepted by Absalom and his servants because their eyes are blinded to the truth of the matter. This is exactly how our God deals with certain matters in other to bring about His will. I would like to suggest that Hushai is given great wisdom by God, and that his plan makes perfect sense, when viewed from Absalom’s point of view. . . Hushai challenges the assumptions on which Ahithophel’s plans are based, and thus he plans as well. He proposes a very different David, and thus a very different plan. Hushai insists that Ahithophel has dangerously underestimated David and his ability to defend himself and his kingdom. Hushai reminds Absalom and the elders of Israel about the kind of man David is. David is no mental weakling; he is a tough and seasoned warrior. Absalom’s rebellion will not break David’s spirit; it will antagonize him. He will be like a she-bear, deprived of her cubs. David will be fighting mad and fighting ready. If Ahithophel comes into the wilderness to attack David, they will fight him on his turf. After all, David has spent years hiding from Saul in the wilderness. Does Ahithophel really think David can easily be found sitting among the rest of the people? He will be hiding out, and when Ahithophel and his small army arrive, David will pounce on them, giving them a humiliating defeat. It will be Absalom’s soldiers who will lose heart and run, not David or his men. This is the kind of encouragement that God aims to give us but many a time lack, hunger weakens us and all our resources are drained before the enemy strikes. E. (:14) Providence of God Working Behind the Scenes; “14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel. For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.” When we say “God is for us” – this is exactly what we mean – all of those occasions where God is working behind the scenes to engineer a good outcome for us.

A. (:15-16) Urgent Instructions to the Priests for David; “15 Then said Hushai to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus have I counseled. 16 Now send quickly and tell David, Lodge not this night at the fords [at the Jordan] of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up and all the people with him.” Providence of God at work; but much dangerous activity involved on the part of David’s friends as well. God is always making providence but there is always the part of fleshy man in managing God’s providence without hitches! Boldness and intelligence on the part of man is greatly required! B. (:17) Usual Intelligence Channels to Relay Messages to David; “17 Now [the youths] Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En-rogel, for they must not be seen coming into the city. But a maidservant went and told them, and they went and told King David.” C. (:18-20) Undercover Tactics — Narrow Escape; “18 But a lad saw them and told Absalom; but they left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they went down into it. 19 And the woman spread a covering over the well’s mouth and spread ground corn on it; and the thing was not discovered. 20 For 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 went over the brook of water. When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.” 1. (:18a) Dangerous Exposure “But a lad did see them, and told Absalom” 2. (:18b) Desperate Evasion, circumvention or bypassing “so the two of them departed quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it” 3. (:19) Designed Camouflage “And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known.” 4. (:20) Daring Misdirection, a diversion of attention in other to mislead! “Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, ‘Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?’ And the woman said to them, ‘They have crossed the brook of water.’ And when they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.” You see by reading our bible we learn a lot, for instance we learn that there could be a dangerous exposure, so you need to apply careful desperate evasion or circumvention or bypassing the exposure by designing a good camouflage; in all there could be a daring misdirection. These are all what a knowledgeable wise man should be aware of in life and you can only be aware of them only and only if you have studied them in the Word of God and being able to practice them as an embodiment of it! These are the conditions that makes good planning and strategic moves to work out fine and good otherwise they fail and you lament because you are not wise, wisdom is of God, and can only be received from Him when you ask Him but He has given us a lot already in His Words in the Bible, so go read your Bible and be an embodiment of it and live and practice it! D. (:21-22) Delivering the Message; “21 After they had departed, the boys came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said, Arise and pass quickly over the river Jordan; for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you. 22 David arose and all the people with him and passed over the Jordan. By daybreak, not one was left who had not crossed.” 1. (:21) Urgent Call to Action “And it came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, ‘Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you.’” 2. (:22) Quick Response by David “Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.” Whenever we receive a word from God, urgent call to action and quick response are required but one thing is sure, you cannot do these two things if you are not a good believer in God otherwise doubt will take you over and cause a dangerous delay where you will be pondering on what to do, whereas everything have been given to you but you cannot act and respond due to unbelief! IV. (:23) SURPRISING SUICIDE OF AHITHOPHEL HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REJECTION OF HIS COUNSEL – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SMARTS AND WISDOM: “23 But when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, went home to his city, put his household in order, and hanged himself and died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.” A. Perception of His Fate “Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed” B. Preparations for His Death “he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order,” C. Performance of the Deed “and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father.” Now today we are faced in life by these two biblical approaches; smarts and wisdom! Which one do you apply in all your daily activities? But remember that both are good depending on usage and on who is behind the usage: God or man? But know that smarts tends more to vanity! Blaikie: The character of Ahithophel was a singular combination. To deep natural sagacity he united great spiritual blindness and lack of true manliness. He saw at once the danger to the cause of Absalom in the plan that had been preferred to his own; but it was not that consideration, it was the gross affront to himself that preyed on him, and drove him to commit suicide. . . In his own way he was as much the victim of vanity as Absalom. The one (Absalom and Ahithophel) was vain of his person, the other (Hashai) of his wisdom. In each case it was the man’s vanity that was the cause of his death. Let us always seek wisdom and not smarts! V. (:24-29) PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE REFRESH AND ENCOURAGE DAVID — THE ABUNDANT PROVISION OF GOD: It is always good to be equipped and prepared by God in life for anything! “24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of an [Ishmaelite] named Ithra, who married Abigail daughter of Nahash, [half sister of David and] sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash of Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim 28 Brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched [pulse—seeds of peas and beans], 29 Honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of cows for David and the people with him to eat; for they said, The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.” A. (:24a) Mobilization of David’s Forces “Then David came to Mahanaim.” Deffinbaugh/commentator: This is indeed a city with a history. It was Jacob who gave this city its name. As he was returning to the land of promise, fearful of what would happen when he met his brother Esau, Jacob was met by angels, prompting Jacob to say, “This is God’s camp.” And so it was that Jacob named that place Mahanaim (meaning “two camps”.) B. (:24b-26) Mobilization of Absalom’s Forces “And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. And Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.” Do you here see another side of life: the side of God and man and the side of the world and man; the two sides usually get prepared and mobilized for battle ready but it is only the side with God that wins, let this truth always guide you in all that you do! C. (:27-29) Munchies and Supplies For David’s Hungry, Weary Troops “Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds, honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, ‘The people are hungry and wear and thirsty in the wilderness.’” Pink/commentator: There is something striking and touching in connection with each of the three men mentioned here, who brought such a lavish present to David. “Shobi was the brother of him, concerning whom David had said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash as his father did to me” as seen in 2 Samuel 10:2 so, with the measure he had meted out to this Gentile, it is measured to him again. Ah, has not God promised that he who watereth others, shall himself be watered! “Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar” was the man who had given shelter to Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul as seen in 2 Samuel 9:5-6: the king had relieved him of this trust by giving Mephibosheth a place at his own table eating with King David (9:11), and now Machir shows his gratitude by providing for David’s table. Concerning “Barzillai” we read that he was “a very aged man, even four score years old” (19:22), yet he was not too aged to minister now unto David’s needs. He will come before us again in the sequel.