David-The Plot Thickens

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 17

From Hushai's Notes

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

Being a spy means keeping aware of every possible glitch in a plan. This was a tricky and complicated idea, and I won't tell you if it worked or not until the end.

If you recall, in the last post king David ordered for me to return to the castle where his son claimed to be king. My job: confuse any wise counsel given to Absalom.

Yesterday I did just that. Absalom and his men agreed with my ridiculous plan instead of siding with the wise counsel from his personal advisor. 

The next step, tell the priest who also are in the castle as spies. I went to Zadok and Abiathar, "Everything is going according to plan. Absalom's advisor actually came up with a great idea, one that would have killed our beloved king. Absalom asked for my opinion. I told him the idea would be bad and gave a different suggestion. 

"Fortunately Absalom agreed with my idea instead of his advisor's. Now, go to En Rogel and tell our spies hiding in the field to report this plan to David. Tell David, 'Do not spend the night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, or you and all the people who are with you will be swallowed up.'"

Zadok and Abiathar went outside the city as if on an errand and travelled to En Rogel to a servant's house where they found the spies, Jonathan and Ahimaaz. A young man saw them talking to Zadok and Abiathar and ran to the king to report the news.

In the meantime, Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran to a man's house in Bahurim. He had a well in the middle of his land. The spies hid inside the well. A servant woman covered the mouth of the well with ground grain.

Not long after, Absalom's soldiers arrived and asked where the spies went. The woman said, "They have gone over the water brook"

The soldiers searched for the spies, but couldn't find them. After they left, the spies crawled out of the well and ran to David's camp.

"My lord." They bowed and gasped for air. "Hurry. Cross over the water quickly. For Ahithophel gave the idea for the king to come against you."

David didn't waste any time. He ordered his followers to cross the River Jordan at once.

The next day Absalom's close advisor grew angry when his counsel was not followed. He stomped out of the castle, walked to his home, made sure his wife was cared for and hung himself.

And in the end, David and all those who followed him were safe.

Here is a Psalm we sing. You call it Psalm 6:

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
 My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?

 Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
 For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?

 I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
 My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
 The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

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1.  Which man was the advisor for Abaslom: Hushai or Ahithophel?
2.  Which man was the advisor for David:      Hushai or Ahithophel?
3.  Which man gave the wise counsel:           Hushai or Ahithophel? 
4.  Which man gave the wrong counsel:        Hushai or Ahithophel?
5.  Which man was a spy:                               Hushai or Ahithophel?
6.  Which man became jealous and killed himself:  Hushai or Ahithophel?
7.  Which man saved David and those who followed him? Hushai or Ahithophel?

David's Spy Enters the Castle

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 15, 17, Psalm 7

From Hushai's Journals

Let me make this clear, beyond all doubt, I am loyal to David, the man of God. I will say this to my dying day.

David recently fled the castle after his son Absalom declared himself king. I went with David to show my loyalty, but at the first rest stop he asked me to return to the castle and say to Absalom "I will be your servant, O king as I was your father's."

He wanted me to confuse the counsel of Absalom's advisor and bring him to defeat.

I felt honored to be chosen to serve my king in such a way. I returned to the castle and met with Absalom. Immediately I bowed before him and said, "Long live the king!"

Absalom's left brow rose. "Is this your way of showing loyalty to your friend, David? Why didn't you go with him?"

I bowed again. "No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose as king, his I will be, and with him I will remain. As I served in your father's presence, so will I be in yours."

I'm not sure he believed me, yet. He turned to Ahithophel, his advisor, and said, "What do you think I should do with Hushai?"

Ahithophel lowered his brows and smiled like only a villain would. "My lord, I think you should go to all the women David left to take care of this castle and marry them, right on the rooftop, that all Israel may see. This will show the people you have, indeed, taken the throne of your father." He glared at me. I chose not to say a word at this time.

Ahithophel continued to give Absalom advise. He made his words sound like God had given him the counsel to share with Absalom. But, Absalom did not throw me in prison.

The next day Ahithophel, that rotten guy, suggested Absalom give him twelve thousand soldiers to chase David and his men and  conquer them. "David will be weary from travel, lack of sleep, and little food." He said, "I will bring back all his men, except David, of course. David will be killed and his men will be reunited with your followers. Then the country will be at peace under your rule."

Thankfully, God stirred Abaslom's heart to seek my advise. I received a message to go to the king's chambers. Absalom told me Ahithophel's plan. "What do you think, Hushhai? Should I do what he said?"

I stoke my beard. "My lord, I'm sorry to say, Ahithophel's plan is not good at this time. You know your father and his men. They are strong, mighty men and angry like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. They will not be tired. 

"You father is a man of war and will not camp with the people. Hmmm, surely by now he is hidden in some pit or some other place. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those with him are valiant men.

"No, I advise you to send word and gather all the men of Israel, from the northern corners to the southern, and go to battle against David and his men. We will fall on him as the dew leaving not one of David's men alive."

Everyone in the chamber looked at Ahithophel then at me. They nodded, and said, "Yes, Hushai's advise is much better. Let's do what he says."

I bowed in appreciate of having my advise accepted. Ahithophel's eyes flashed with anger. 

Thankfully, the Lord put in their hearts not to follow the wise advise of Ahithophel. It really was the better counsel. 

My work had only begun. Now I must let David know the plan so he can formulate an escape plan

Here is a Psalm we sang. You cal it Psalm 5:

Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
 Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

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1. What is Hushai's job?
2. What is Ahithophel's job?
3. Who was Hushai loyal to?
4. Who was Ahithophel to?
5. What did David ask Hushai to do?
6. Was Huhai successful?