1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,740 Good morning everyone. If you have your Bible open at the passage of Scripture that has been read, 2 Samuel Chapter 17, 2 00:00:07,740 –> 00:00:13,280 we are following the story of Absalom’s rebellion against his father, David. 3 00:00:13,280 –> 00:00:18,780 And the important thing to remember here is that David was God’s Anointed King. 4 00:00:18,780 –> 00:00:24,860 That means that when Absalom rebelled against David, he was really rebelling against God. 5 00:00:24,920 –> 00:00:30,180 And so what this story shows us is how rebellion against God begins, 6 00:00:30,180 –> 00:00:34,119 how it grows and indeed where it ends. 7 00:00:34,119 –> 00:00:38,080 It really is, therefore, a snapshot of the world in which we live. 8 00:00:38,080 –> 00:00:41,619 And it speaks powerfully, as we are seeing from week to week, 9 00:00:41,619 –> 00:00:47,340 to the particular moment of time in which we find ourselves today. 10 00:00:47,340 –> 00:00:52,619 Now, just to remind you, and for those who may be new to the story, as we catch up to where we are. 11 00:00:52,639 –> 00:00:58,480 After Absalom had charmed the people, there was a kind of mass delusion 12 00:00:58,480 –> 00:01:02,619 in which people lost faith in God’s anointed King. 13 00:01:02,619 –> 00:01:06,239 The hearts of the people went over to Absalom. 14 00:01:06,239 –> 00:01:10,599 And when that happened, David was left with no alternative but to flee from Jerusalem. 15 00:01:10,599 –> 00:01:16,959 He leaves the throne, he leaves the palace, and we followed him with a small group of loyal supporters. 16 00:01:16,959 –> 00:01:21,040 As they made their way across the Kidron valley and up the Mount of Olives, 17 00:01:21,660 –> 00:01:27,559 he was barefoot in mourning, his head covered, and weeping as he went. 18 00:01:27,559 –> 00:01:33,580 We followed the story last time of the aggravation that the rejected King suffered 19 00:01:33,580 –> 00:01:40,720 when this hate-filled man, by the name of Shimei, shouted curses at him and threw stones at him 20 00:01:40,720 –> 00:01:47,199 and even flung dust on him as he made his weary way towards the Jordan River. 21 00:01:48,199 –> 00:01:54,940 As we take up the story today, we’re going to see what happened on the very same day 22 00:01:54,940 –> 00:01:58,220 that David left Jerusalem. 23 00:01:58,220 –> 00:02:04,059 Because perhaps within just a few hours of David leaving, he went east 24 00:02:04,160 –> 00:02:08,320 across the Kidron, and up the Mount of Olives, and then on towards the Jordan. 25 00:02:08,320 –> 00:02:14,380 So as he leaves to the east, Absalom arrives with a vast army. 26 00:02:14,520 –> 00:02:19,800 There’s reference in verse 1 to twelve thousand, so that number at least, immediately with 27 00:02:19,800 –> 00:02:22,320 him and available to him. 28 00:02:22,320 –> 00:02:27,320 They arrived from the south from Hebron where he had been recognized and where he had been 29 00:02:27,320 –> 00:02:29,800 gathering people to himself. 30 00:02:29,800 –> 00:02:35,399 And the timing of the anointed king leaving and the self appointed king arriving seems 31 00:02:35,399 –> 00:02:37,039 to be very close. 32 00:02:37,039 –> 00:02:43,020 If you look at chapter 15 in verse 14, you see this, David as he’s preparing to go, there’s 33 00:02:43,320 –> 00:02:47,600 rush to get out of Jerusalem before Absalom arrives. 34 00:02:47,600 –> 00:02:53,880 David said to the servants who were with them, arise and let us flee or else there will be 35 00:02:53,880 –> 00:02:56,160 no escape for us from Absalom. 36 00:02:56,160 –> 00:03:01,100 We’ve gotta get out of here he’s saying before Absalom arrives and he’s coming very soon. 37 00:03:01,100 –> 00:03:03,899 So go quickly, lest he overtake us. 38 00:03:03,899 –> 00:03:07,460 We can’t afford to be here when he arrives, otherwise it’s all done for. 39 00:03:07,460 –> 00:03:12,119 Lest he overtake us and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the 40 00:03:12,839 –> 00:03:16,279 high drama the Annointed King leaves to the east. 41 00:03:16,279 –> 00:03:23,279 The self-appointed King arrives from the South with all of the people of the men of Israel 42 00:03:24,179 –> 00:03:27,979 chapter 16 and verse 15. 43 00:03:27,979 –> 00:03:34,979 Now at this point in the story we are introduced to two men who become central and pivotal 44 00:03:35,899 –> 00:03:38,520 to what happens next. 45 00:03:38,520 –> 00:03:40,259 Both of them are counselors. 46 00:03:40,460 –> 00:03:47,460 The name of one is Ahithophel and the name of the other is Hushai chapter 16 and verse 47 00:03:47,880 –> 00:03:49,839 15 and 16 48 00:03:49,839 –> 00:03:56,160 And Absalom and all the people of Israel came to Jerusalem and Ahithophel was with him and 49 00:03:56,160 –> 00:04:03,199 when Hushai the Archite David’s friend came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, 50 00:04:03,199 –> 00:04:05,160 Long live the King long live the King. 51 00:04:05,460 –> 00:04:10,039 So this is a story about two counsellors. 52 00:04:10,039 –> 00:04:13,020 Now here is what you need to know about each of them. 53 00:04:13,039 –> 00:04:14,800 First, Ahitophel. 54 00:04:15,979 –> 00:04:19,959 Ahithophel was a fountain of wisdom. 55 00:04:19,980 –> 00:04:24,799 We have noticed this earlier in the series, chapter 16 and verse 23. 56 00:04:24,799 –> 00:04:31,040 In those days the counsel of Ahithophel, notice that word, In those days the counsel that 57 00:04:31,040 –> 00:04:38,239 Ahitophel gave was as if one consulted the Word of God. 58 00:04:38,239 –> 00:04:43,040 So was the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed both by David and by Absalom. 59 00:04:43,119 –> 00:04:49,399 Both David and Absalom realised that this man really was a fountain of wisdom. 60 00:04:49,399 –> 00:04:55,339 Ahithophel, for many years, had been David’s counsellor but he had abandoned the palace 61 00:04:55,339 –> 00:04:59,959 and had gone back to his own home town, a little place called Gilo. 62 00:05:00,619 –> 00:05:03,279 We can guess at the reason for this. 63 00:05:03,279 –> 00:05:09,220 Because this man, Ahithophel, was the grandfather of Bathsheba. 64 00:05:09,779 –> 00:05:15,959 And I suspect that part of the price that David paid for his sin with Bathsheba 65 00:05:15,959 –> 00:05:20,679 was that he lost the confidence and the support of her grandfather, 66 00:05:20,679 –> 00:05:26,279 the fount of wisdom, the counsellor, the wise strategist, this man Ahithophel 67 00:05:26,480 –> 00:05:29,500 who for many years had been by his side. 68 00:05:30,079 –> 00:05:35,640 So Ahithophel leaves him and goes back to the little hometown of Gilo. 69 00:05:35,640 –> 00:05:44,059 And then when Absalom raises his rebellion he reaches out and lures this man Ahithophel 70 00:05:44,059 –> 00:05:49,579 to come and to join him and so now we have the man who is the fount of wisdom 71 00:05:49,579 –> 00:05:55,160 and he is lending his support to the great rebellion. 72 00:05:55,160 –> 00:05:57,619 Let’s just pause here for a moment and think about this. 73 00:05:57,619 –> 00:06:02,600 Here is a man with extraordinary gifts. 74 00:06:02,600 –> 00:06:08,640 A man who at one time used these gifts in the cause of the Lord’s Anointed 75 00:06:08,640 –> 00:06:13,019 and now he is deploying these gifts in the cause of the great rebellion. 76 00:06:13,019 –> 00:06:15,420 Isn’t that a tragedy? 77 00:06:15,420 –> 00:06:21,640 In what cause are your gifts being deployed? 78 00:06:21,820 –> 00:06:24,179 That’s the question that arises here. 79 00:06:24,179 –> 00:06:30,619 Now, when Ahithophel came over to Absalom he didn’t cease to be a gifted and a wise 80 00:06:30,619 –> 00:06:35,500 counselor and this was precisely what worried David. 81 00:06:35,500 –> 00:06:40,940 If Absalom has the fount of wisdom beside him he’s going to know exactly what to do. 82 00:06:40,940 –> 00:06:45,859 And that is why when David was told that Ahithophel had gone over to Absalom 83 00:06:45,859 –> 00:06:47,440 the first thing he did was to pray. 84 00:06:47,440 –> 00:06:49,179 It was the only thing he could do. 85 00:06:49,179 –> 00:06:55,540 Chapter 15 and verse 31, Oh God, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel 86 00:06:55,540 –> 00:06:58,179 into foolishness. 87 00:06:58,179 –> 00:07:03,700 Lord, unless you do something then Absalom leading this rebellion will have the fount 88 00:07:03,700 –> 00:07:07,559 of wisdom beside him and he’ll know how the rebellion will succeed. 89 00:07:07,559 –> 00:07:10,420 And if the rebellion succeeds then I will be done for. 90 00:07:10,420 –> 00:07:15,359 So please, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 91 00:07:15,640 –> 00:07:22,160 Now, that prayer was going to be wonderfully answered by the Lord, as we’re going to see 92 00:07:22,160 –> 00:07:23,160 today. 93 00:07:23,160 –> 00:07:27,640 And the Lord answered David’s prayer thru the second counselor, this man by the name 94 00:07:27,640 –> 00:07:29,119 of Hushai. 95 00:07:29,119 –> 00:07:31,640 Ahithophel and Hushai. 96 00:07:31,640 –> 00:07:36,239 Now, Hushai was David’s loyal friend. 97 00:07:36,239 –> 00:07:39,079 We have that in chapter 15 and verse 37. 98 00:07:39,700 –> 00:07:49,579 So, whereas Ahithophel left David, Hushai remained loyal to God’s anointed King. 99 00:07:49,579 –> 00:07:54,160 And if you look in chapter 15 and verse 32, you’ll see, that when David leaving Jerusalem 100 00:07:54,160 –> 00:07:59,000 out to the east, across the Kidrone brook and up the Mount of Olives, gets towards the 101 00:07:59,000 –> 00:08:05,660 summit, at that very moment, this man, Hushai, his loyal friend, shows up. 102 00:08:06,000 –> 00:08:07,500 And we read this. 103 00:08:07,519 –> 00:08:13,040 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the archite 104 00:08:13,040 –> 00:08:20,260 came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head, which of course was the sign 105 00:08:20,260 –> 00:08:21,720 of mourning. 106 00:08:21,720 –> 00:08:23,519 And David would’ve been in the same state. 107 00:08:23,519 –> 00:08:28,420 He’s barefoot and his clothes would have been torn too and dirt on his head, no doubt. 108 00:08:28,420 –> 00:08:33,619 Everyone’s mourning and the very appearance of this man is communicating, David, I’m with 109 00:08:34,419 –> 00:08:38,719 I’m in the grief and the sorrow of this with you. 110 00:08:38,719 –> 00:08:45,200 And Hushai, loyal as he is, is ready to give up everything, leave Jerusalem and go with 111 00:08:45,200 –> 00:08:47,820 the King into exile. 112 00:08:47,820 –> 00:08:52,880 But David has a better plan and a higher purpose for this man Hushai. 113 00:08:52,880 –> 00:08:54,500 Chapter fifteen verse thirty-four. 114 00:08:54,500 –> 00:09:01,659 David says to him, now if you return to the city, and if you say to Absalom I will be 115 00:09:01,659 –> 00:09:10,460 your servant, O king, then you will defeat for me the council of Ahithophel. 116 00:09:10,460 –> 00:09:16,359 Hushai David says, the best thing you can do for me right now is not to leave your job 117 00:09:16,359 –> 00:09:19,400 and come with me into exile. 118 00:09:19,400 –> 00:09:23,340 The best thing you can do for me right now is go back into that dark place and be my 119 00:09:23,340 –> 00:09:26,059 eyes and ears there. 120 00:09:26,059 –> 00:09:30,919 The very best thing that you can do is go right back into Absalom’s palace, that’s the 121 00:09:30,940 –> 00:09:33,219 darkest place, that’s the heart of the rebellion. 122 00:09:33,219 –> 00:09:36,780 I want you to go back there. 123 00:09:36,780 –> 00:09:43,419 And perhaps you can speak in such a way that will divert Absalom away from following what 124 00:09:43,419 –> 00:09:51,140 will surely be strategic counsel that will be given to him by Ahithophel. 125 00:09:51,140 –> 00:09:58,260 That was a tough calling because Hushai was going into the palace to act as what we would 126 00:09:58,359 –> 00:10:00,440 call today a double agent. 127 00:10:00,440 –> 00:10:02,380 That’s what he is. 128 00:10:02,380 –> 00:10:09,260 This is a spy story in the Old Testament scriptures, and it’s an absolutely fascinating 129 00:10:09,260 –> 00:10:11,679 story. 130 00:10:11,679 –> 00:10:13,919 So now we have two counselors. 131 00:10:13,919 –> 00:10:20,080 One is the fount of wisdom, the brilliant strategist who seems always to know exactly 132 00:10:20,080 –> 00:10:26,080 what to do for any purpose to succeed and he’s now giving himself to a wretched purpose 133 00:10:26,140 –> 00:10:30,359 to tell that purpose how to succeed. 134 00:10:30,359 –> 00:10:37,380 The other one is a spy, and he’s loyal to God’s anointed king and he, at great risk 135 00:10:37,380 –> 00:10:42,960 to himself, goes right into the heart of the rebellion. 136 00:10:42,960 –> 00:10:45,340 Now I want you to picture the scene then back in Jerusalem. 137 00:10:45,340 –> 00:10:49,400 It’s just a few hours David’s over the top of the hill and he’s making his journey 138 00:10:49,400 –> 00:10:52,260 on East towards the Jordan. 139 00:10:52,260 –> 00:10:57,299 Back in Jerusalem, Absalom has arrived with all his forces from the South. 140 00:10:57,299 –> 00:11:04,020 The new administration moves into the palace, and now the self appointed king calls in the 141 00:11:04,020 –> 00:11:05,900 fount of wisdom Ahithophel. 142 00:11:05,900 –> 00:11:06,900 Okay. 143 00:11:06,900 –> 00:11:08,919 There’s a new administration we’re here. 144 00:11:08,919 –> 00:11:10,219 Now I need your advice. 145 00:11:10,219 –> 00:11:11,340 Give me your counsel. 146 00:11:11,340 –> 00:11:12,340 What should we do? 147 00:11:12,340 –> 00:11:15,159 What should be our first move? 148 00:11:15,559 –> 00:11:16,880 In chapter 17 in verse 1. 149 00:11:16,880 –> 00:11:22,400 Ahithophel proposes a plan of immediate action. 150 00:11:22,400 –> 00:11:28,280 Ahithophel said to Absalom, let me choose 12,000 men, which shows how many were immediately 151 00:11:28,280 –> 00:11:33,539 available and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 152 00:11:33,539 –> 00:11:38,260 We got to act right away. 153 00:11:38,260 –> 00:11:43,440 And the reasons for this immediate pursuit of David were very obvious and Ahithophel 154 00:11:43,440 –> 00:11:44,440 lays them out. 155 00:11:44,940 –> 00:11:48,239 I will come upon him while he’s weary. 156 00:11:48,239 –> 00:11:50,320 Let’s go after him while he’s tired. 157 00:11:50,320 –> 00:11:52,320 He’s at his most vulnerable right now. 158 00:11:52,320 –> 00:11:56,440 This is the time when we should go after him, immediate action. 159 00:11:56,440 –> 00:11:58,760 He’s going to be tired from the journey. 160 00:11:58,760 –> 00:12:01,859 His own people are going to be discouraged, verse two. 161 00:12:01,859 –> 00:12:03,539 I’ll throw him into a panic. 162 00:12:03,539 –> 00:12:05,080 He’s disoriented right now. 163 00:12:05,080 –> 00:12:07,940 He’s traveling, he’s not on familiar turf. 164 00:12:07,940 –> 00:12:10,179 He’s not been able to establish a base. 165 00:12:10,179 –> 00:12:11,359 He’s just on the move. 166 00:12:11,359 –> 00:12:13,479 He’s at his lowest point, his most vulnerable. 167 00:12:13,719 –> 00:12:17,080 So we got to go, we got to strike tonight. 168 00:12:17,080 –> 00:12:20,599 And Ahithoel’s plan was not only for immediate actions, 169 00:12:20,599 –> 00:12:23,539 it was for a focused objective. 170 00:12:25,000 –> 00:12:28,520 The elimination of David was the single objective 171 00:12:28,520 –> 00:12:31,599 of this mission that he proposed. 172 00:12:31,599 –> 00:12:33,799 We have to take out one person, 173 00:12:33,799 –> 00:12:37,719 and that one person was God’s anointed king. 174 00:12:37,719 –> 00:12:41,679 Verse two and three, I will strike down only the king. 175 00:12:42,640 –> 00:12:44,960 And I will bring all the people back to you 176 00:12:44,960 –> 00:12:48,200 as a bride comes home to her husband. 177 00:12:50,119 –> 00:12:54,320 So Ahithoel’s plan is what we would call 178 00:12:54,320 –> 00:12:58,919 in military terms today an immediate surgical strike. 179 00:12:58,919 –> 00:13:01,080 That’s what we do, we go in now, we go in hard, 180 00:13:01,080 –> 00:13:02,840 and we go in with one objective. 181 00:13:02,840 –> 00:13:05,059 We’re not trying to wipe out the people who are with him. 182 00:13:05,059 –> 00:13:06,619 We’re just after one man. 183 00:13:07,719 –> 00:13:10,159 And you see the force of what Ahithoel is saying. 184 00:13:10,320 –> 00:13:12,299 Absalom, what you don’t want to happen here 185 00:13:12,299 –> 00:13:14,559 is for this to descend into a long 186 00:13:14,559 –> 00:13:16,539 and prolonged civil war. 187 00:13:16,539 –> 00:13:18,179 Can’t allow that to happen. 188 00:13:18,179 –> 00:13:21,359 We don’t want the people fighting against their own. 189 00:13:21,359 –> 00:13:24,200 We gotta move before that happens. 190 00:13:24,200 –> 00:13:27,719 Because what we need to do here, says this man, 191 00:13:27,719 –> 00:13:30,640 is simply eliminate one person. 192 00:13:30,640 –> 00:13:32,419 And this is really a commando mission 193 00:13:32,419 –> 00:13:37,080 and it’s gotta be undertaken immediately, imediately. 194 00:13:38,039 –> 00:13:43,039 Now, there is no question that if Absalom’s rebellion 195 00:13:44,559 –> 00:13:47,239 was going to succeed, this was the way 196 00:13:47,239 –> 00:13:48,640 in which it would happen. 197 00:13:49,760 –> 00:13:52,159 From Absalom’s point of view, 198 00:13:52,159 –> 00:13:53,960 from the rebellion’s point of view, 199 00:13:53,960 –> 00:13:56,539 this was quote, good advice. 200 00:13:57,359 –> 00:14:00,979 In fact the scripture even uses that phrase in verse 14. 201 00:14:00,979 –> 00:14:05,099 It speaks of the good counsel of Ahithophel. 202 00:14:05,140 –> 00:14:08,080 Good that is not in the sense that it was honorable. 203 00:14:08,940 –> 00:14:11,979 Because remember, what Ahithophel was proposing 204 00:14:12,900 –> 00:14:15,340 was a wicked plan. 205 00:14:16,340 –> 00:14:21,340 He was proposing taking the life of God’s anointed king. 206 00:14:23,419 –> 00:14:25,700 Ahithophel is saying to Absalom, 207 00:14:25,700 –> 00:14:27,780 you eliminate the lord’s anointed. 208 00:14:27,780 –> 00:14:32,140 That was precisely what David always refused to do 209 00:14:32,140 –> 00:14:33,340 with regards to Saul. 210 00:14:33,380 –> 00:14:36,619 You remember David says I won’t lift a finger against him 211 00:14:36,619 –> 00:14:38,820 because he is the lords anointed. 212 00:14:38,820 –> 00:14:41,099 And now, here is this man Ahithophel 213 00:14:41,099 –> 00:14:43,200 and say, well that may have been what David did with Saul, 214 00:14:43,200 –> 00:14:44,679 but you follow my advice, 215 00:14:44,679 –> 00:14:46,859 the way to secure your rebellion 216 00:14:46,859 –> 00:14:51,000 is to deal with him and him only and to do it now. 217 00:14:53,020 –> 00:14:55,500 Taking the life of David would have been 218 00:14:55,500 –> 00:14:58,900 the ultimate act of defiance against God. 219 00:14:59,380 –> 00:15:02,380 So the counsel was good you understand 220 00:15:02,380 –> 00:15:07,059 only in the sense that if Absalom’s Rebellion 221 00:15:07,059 –> 00:15:08,179 was going to succeed, 222 00:15:08,179 –> 00:15:12,419 this undoubtedly was the day and the way to do it. 223 00:15:13,719 –> 00:15:17,820 Now it is extraordinary in the flow of scripture. 224 00:15:17,820 –> 00:15:21,799 The way in which themes from stories 225 00:15:21,799 –> 00:15:23,840 that point forward to Jesus 226 00:15:23,840 –> 00:15:28,140 reappear when we come to the story of our Lord Jesus 227 00:15:28,179 –> 00:15:31,059 that of course is at the very center of scripture. 228 00:15:32,359 –> 00:15:34,619 And I wonder if you’ve noticed this, 229 00:15:34,619 –> 00:15:36,020 at the Last Supper, 230 00:15:37,099 –> 00:15:41,179 when Jesus then comes away from the upper room 231 00:15:41,179 –> 00:15:43,679 and remember He goes down into the Kidron 232 00:15:43,679 –> 00:15:45,539 across his the Kidron brook 233 00:15:45,539 –> 00:15:47,179 and is on the Mount of Olives. 234 00:15:47,179 –> 00:15:51,179 Here’s what we read in Matthew 26 in verse 30. 235 00:15:51,179 –> 00:15:52,659 When they had sung a hymn, 236 00:15:53,700 –> 00:15:57,299 they went out to the Mount of Olives. 237 00:15:57,340 –> 00:15:59,460 And then Jesus said to them, 238 00:15:59,460 –> 00:16:04,260 you will all fall away because of me this night 239 00:16:04,260 –> 00:16:06,780 for it is written, 240 00:16:06,780 –> 00:16:09,940 I will strike the shepherd 241 00:16:09,940 –> 00:16:13,520 and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 242 00:16:14,559 –> 00:16:16,659 Now do you see that is exactly 243 00:16:16,659 –> 00:16:19,919 what Ahithophel proposed to Absalom. 244 00:16:20,940 –> 00:16:23,219 Strike the shepherd. 245 00:16:23,219 –> 00:16:24,900 And if you strike the shepherd, 246 00:16:24,900 –> 00:16:26,739 all of his little band of followers, 247 00:16:26,840 –> 00:16:27,780 they’ll all be scattered. 248 00:16:27,780 –> 00:16:30,820 And of course that’s exactly what happened, isn’t it? 249 00:16:30,820 –> 00:16:33,539 In the story of our Lord Jesus Christ. 250 00:16:33,539 –> 00:16:37,419 And extraordinarily, picking up this theme, 251 00:16:37,419 –> 00:16:41,539 John records in his Gospel that Caiaphas advised, 252 00:16:43,260 –> 00:16:45,340 that’s counseling language, 253 00:16:45,340 –> 00:16:49,020 Caiaphas advised, in these words, 254 00:16:49,020 –> 00:16:51,919 it would be expedient 255 00:16:51,919 –> 00:16:55,859 that one man should die for the people. 256 00:16:55,859 –> 00:16:58,419 In other words, the counsel of Caiaphas 257 00:16:58,419 –> 00:17:02,299 was a repetition of the counsel of Ahithophel. 258 00:17:02,299 –> 00:17:04,439 Go for it, no, here we are in Jerusalem. 259 00:17:04,439 –> 00:17:06,239 We can’t have a tumult of the people 260 00:17:06,239 –> 00:17:07,859 taking sides over this man. 261 00:17:07,859 –> 00:17:09,459 We can’t allow that to happen. 262 00:17:09,459 –> 00:17:11,900 What we’ve gotta do is we’ve gotta go after this person. 263 00:17:11,900 –> 00:17:13,560 Surgical strike, let’s take him out. 264 00:17:13,560 –> 00:17:15,680 And that led to the Cross, 265 00:17:15,680 –> 00:17:18,540 the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 266 00:17:18,540 –> 00:17:20,640 The counsel of Ahithophel, 267 00:17:20,640 –> 00:17:23,859 repeated by Caiaphas, 268 00:17:23,859 –> 00:17:25,439 strike the shepherd. 269 00:17:25,439 –> 00:17:27,180 Surgical strike, just take him out, 270 00:17:27,180 –> 00:17:29,180 all the rest of them will be scattered. 271 00:17:30,339 –> 00:17:32,280 And that’s at the very heart of the story 272 00:17:32,280 –> 00:17:37,180 of the crucifixion of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 273 00:17:38,900 –> 00:17:43,660 Now, clearly, there was general agreement 274 00:17:43,660 –> 00:17:46,439 when Ahithophel laid out this plan. 275 00:17:47,699 –> 00:17:49,400 Immediate and focused action. 276 00:17:49,400 –> 00:17:50,239 Verse four, 277 00:17:50,239 –> 00:17:53,099 the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom 278 00:17:53,300 –> 00:17:55,680 and all the elders of Israel. 279 00:17:55,680 –> 00:17:59,760 And now we come to the turning point of the whole story. 280 00:18:00,800 –> 00:18:02,900 Because if the advice seemed right, 281 00:18:04,219 –> 00:18:06,160 and the advice was for immediate action, 282 00:18:06,160 –> 00:18:11,140 why did Absalom not simply say do it, do it, do it? 283 00:18:11,140 –> 00:18:13,719 But notice what he did instead. 284 00:18:14,619 –> 00:18:16,420 Verse five, 285 00:18:16,420 –> 00:18:20,280 then Absalom said call Hushai, the other counselor. 286 00:18:21,140 –> 00:18:23,579 Call Hushai the archite also 287 00:18:23,579 –> 00:18:27,079 and let us hear what he has to say. 288 00:18:28,300 –> 00:18:31,060 And so Ahithophel, the fount of wisdom, 289 00:18:31,060 –> 00:18:33,060 having been heard is dismissed 290 00:18:34,479 –> 00:18:37,520 and Hushai is called in. 291 00:18:37,520 –> 00:18:39,839 And Absalom has no idea whatsoever 292 00:18:39,839 –> 00:18:41,040 that at this moment 293 00:18:41,040 –> 00:18:46,040 he is actually listening to the counsel of a spy. 294 00:18:46,040 –> 00:18:46,920 They’re amazing. 295 00:18:47,660 –> 00:18:50,479 Well, when Hushai came in, 296 00:18:50,479 –> 00:18:52,739 Absalom might’ve said to him, 297 00:18:52,739 –> 00:18:55,619 Okay, give me your advice what should I do? 298 00:18:55,619 –> 00:18:56,739 But he didn’t do that. 299 00:18:56,739 –> 00:18:58,819 He actually made it much easier for Hushai 300 00:18:58,819 –> 00:19:03,619 because we’re told here that Absalom said to him, 301 00:19:03,619 –> 00:19:08,040 thus has Ahithophel spoken, shall we do as he says. 302 00:19:08,040 –> 00:19:09,979 In other words, 303 00:19:09,979 –> 00:19:13,260 Absalom laid out all of Ahithophel’s plan 304 00:19:13,260 –> 00:19:16,459 and asked effectively for a second opinion. 305 00:19:16,479 –> 00:19:17,900 That’s what he’s doing here. 306 00:19:20,140 –> 00:19:22,540 And let’s just pause here for another point 307 00:19:22,540 –> 00:19:23,619 for us to pick up. 308 00:19:23,619 –> 00:19:28,020 You know, Absalom plunged to disaster. 309 00:19:28,020 –> 00:19:29,660 We’ll get to that next week. 310 00:19:31,300 –> 00:19:32,819 He plunged to disaster 311 00:19:32,819 –> 00:19:35,619 because he failed to follow through 312 00:19:35,619 –> 00:19:38,439 on the advice that he received. 313 00:19:39,739 –> 00:19:41,459 Thank God for that, 314 00:19:41,459 –> 00:19:45,420 because remember we want this rebellion to fail 315 00:19:45,420 –> 00:19:46,900 because the story 316 00:19:46,900 –> 00:19:49,479 is about how God preserves his own Anointed. 317 00:19:50,739 –> 00:19:53,339 But there is a principle here that we shouldn’t pass over, 318 00:19:53,339 –> 00:19:55,739 that we can apply to our own lives. 319 00:19:55,739 –> 00:19:56,660 And it’s simply this, 320 00:19:56,660 –> 00:20:00,020 when you receive wise counsel and fail to act on it, 321 00:20:00,020 –> 00:20:02,380 you put yourself in a dangerous position. 322 00:20:03,219 –> 00:20:06,000 That was actually Absalom’s destruction. 323 00:20:06,000 –> 00:20:08,780 In a wretched cause, he was told how it could succeed, 324 00:20:08,780 –> 00:20:11,579 and he doesn’t follow through 325 00:20:11,579 –> 00:20:13,540 on the counsel that he’s given, 326 00:20:13,540 –> 00:20:15,020 he seeks another opinion. 327 00:20:16,180 –> 00:20:18,260 And he puts himself 328 00:20:18,260 –> 00:20:20,540 in a very dangerous position indeed. 329 00:20:20,540 –> 00:20:22,420 Notice what Hushai says to Absalom, 330 00:20:22,420 –> 00:20:25,239 this time the counsel that Ahithophel has given 331 00:20:25,239 –> 00:20:26,280 is not good. 332 00:20:27,280 –> 00:20:28,780 And he shows great respect to Ahithophel. 333 00:20:28,780 –> 00:20:31,420 We all know that he’s the fount of wisdom 334 00:20:31,420 –> 00:20:33,420 and that normally what he says is exactly 335 00:20:33,420 –> 00:20:36,339 the strategy that a wise person would pursue. 336 00:20:36,339 –> 00:20:38,920 He knows how to get any cause done. 337 00:20:38,920 –> 00:20:40,219 But I have to tell you Absalom, 338 00:20:40,219 –> 00:20:42,819 on this occasion he ain’t got it right. 339 00:20:42,819 –> 00:20:44,900 His advice this time is not good, 340 00:20:46,000 –> 00:20:50,380 and I want you to notice then 341 00:20:50,380 –> 00:20:52,959 from the counsel that Hushai gives 342 00:20:52,959 –> 00:20:56,079 which remember is to divert him away 343 00:20:56,079 –> 00:20:58,839 from the plan by which he would succeed, 344 00:21:00,660 –> 00:21:02,540 I want you to notice from that then 345 00:21:02,540 –> 00:21:06,479 two distinguishing marks of bad counsel. 346 00:21:07,540 –> 00:21:09,380 This is the counsel that actually, 347 00:21:09,380 –> 00:21:11,500 in this case thankfully but nonetheless 348 00:21:11,500 –> 00:21:14,780 diverts Absalom away from the cause 349 00:21:14,800 –> 00:21:16,920 that would lead him to success. 350 00:21:18,000 –> 00:21:21,540 And I want you to notice two marks of this bad counsel. 351 00:21:21,540 –> 00:21:26,540 The first is that it plays on unfounded fear 352 00:21:26,800 –> 00:21:30,140 and the second is that it appeals to unbridled pride. 353 00:21:30,140 –> 00:21:33,199 First, it plays on unfounded fear. 354 00:21:33,199 –> 00:21:36,239 So Hushai quite brilliantly begins 355 00:21:36,239 –> 00:21:39,859 by picking holes in Ahithophel’s plan 356 00:21:40,900 –> 00:21:44,040 and all of it is scaremongering. 357 00:21:44,060 –> 00:21:46,800 That is what it is and this is a very important theme 358 00:21:46,800 –> 00:21:50,160 because there is a great deal of scaremongering 359 00:21:50,160 –> 00:21:54,099 that is going on in our culture and in our world today. 360 00:21:54,920 –> 00:21:56,739 And it is good for us to remember 361 00:21:56,739 –> 00:21:59,319 that scaremongering is bad counsel 362 00:21:59,319 –> 00:22:02,400 and for us to learn to discern 363 00:22:02,400 –> 00:22:07,140 what a person is simply appealing to unfounded fears. 364 00:22:08,680 –> 00:22:11,199 Well, look at how Hushai does this 365 00:22:11,199 –> 00:22:13,800 and then how Absalom falls for it. 366 00:22:14,079 –> 00:22:14,959 Hushai said Verse 8, 367 00:22:14,959 –> 00:22:19,680 “‘You know that your father and his men are mighty men 368 00:22:19,680 –> 00:22:22,079 and that they are enraged 369 00:22:22,079 –> 00:22:26,839 like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.’” 370 00:22:26,839 –> 00:22:29,520 You see what he’s saying, hey, Absalom, 371 00:22:29,520 –> 00:22:33,300 Ahithophel says go after David when he’s weary 372 00:22:33,300 –> 00:22:35,079 and when he’s discouraged, 373 00:22:35,079 –> 00:22:37,000 but I don’t think you’re gonna find David 374 00:22:37,000 –> 00:22:39,359 either weary or discouraged. 375 00:22:39,359 –> 00:22:41,319 I think if your men ever catch up on them, 376 00:22:41,439 –> 00:22:42,800 what they’re gonna find is that he 377 00:22:42,800 –> 00:22:45,099 and those who are with him are enraged 378 00:22:45,099 –> 00:22:49,000 like a mother bear that’s been robbed of her cubs. 379 00:22:49,000 –> 00:22:53,280 And Absalom, I think you know this in your heart. 380 00:22:55,640 –> 00:22:56,680 Now was that true? 381 00:22:56,680 –> 00:22:57,819 Of course not. 382 00:22:57,819 –> 00:23:00,160 We know from the Bible that David was what? 383 00:23:00,160 –> 00:23:04,160 Weary and discouraged, exhausted. 384 00:23:06,099 –> 00:23:11,099 But you see, Hushai deceived Absalom 385 00:23:11,319 –> 00:23:16,319 by scaremongering. 386 00:23:16,319 –> 00:23:18,800 And it continues, you see the pattern 387 00:23:18,800 –> 00:23:21,439 not only what if you find that he’s enraged 388 00:23:21,439 –> 00:23:23,939 and not discouraged, it’s what if you can’t find 389 00:23:23,939 –> 00:23:26,640 him, verse eight and nine, and all the problems. 390 00:23:26,640 –> 00:23:30,160 Besides, your father is an expert in war. 391 00:23:30,160 –> 00:23:32,859 He will not spend the night with the people. 392 00:23:32,859 –> 00:23:35,560 Behold, even now he has hidden himself 393 00:23:35,560 –> 00:23:38,000 in one of the pits or in some other place. 394 00:23:38,000 –> 00:23:39,400 Look, you’ve been given this advice 395 00:23:39,400 –> 00:23:41,060 to go after him immediately. 396 00:23:41,099 –> 00:23:44,520 Do you really think that you’ll ever actually find him? 397 00:23:44,520 –> 00:23:46,239 I mean, don’t you remember that Saul 398 00:23:46,239 –> 00:23:47,979 hunted for him for years and years 399 00:23:47,979 –> 00:23:49,300 and could never catch up with him or track him down. 400 00:23:49,300 –> 00:23:51,380 He hid in caves and goodness knows 401 00:23:51,380 –> 00:23:52,219 where else? 402 00:23:52,219 –> 00:23:54,060 He’ll be in some pit by now. 403 00:23:54,060 –> 00:23:55,060 Don’t deceive yourself that you’re 404 00:23:55,060 –> 00:23:56,439 gonna be able to find him. 405 00:23:56,439 –> 00:23:58,780 Actually, he’d gone through Barahim. 406 00:23:58,780 –> 00:24:00,339 Many people had seen him and he was 407 00:24:00,339 –> 00:24:01,859 at his most vulnerable point, would have 408 00:24:01,859 –> 00:24:03,020 been found quite easily. 409 00:24:03,020 –> 00:24:04,959 He hadn’t yet crossed the river Jordan. 410 00:24:05,900 –> 00:24:08,020 Then he goes for what will people think? 411 00:24:08,199 –> 00:24:09,239 Then verse nine. 412 00:24:09,239 –> 00:24:12,020 And as soon as some of the people fall 413 00:24:12,020 –> 00:24:14,280 in the first attack, in other words, 414 00:24:14,280 –> 00:24:15,760 Absalom, you’ve gotta be realistic. 415 00:24:15,760 –> 00:24:18,520 You know, this surgical strike plan is all very well. 416 00:24:18,520 –> 00:24:19,959 But you’ve gotta realize that there will be 417 00:24:19,959 –> 00:24:21,479 some collateral damage and you will 418 00:24:21,479 –> 00:24:23,319 suffer some loss and you know what? 419 00:24:23,319 –> 00:24:27,319 As soon as you experience any loss, 420 00:24:27,319 –> 00:24:29,859 well then whoever hears it will say 421 00:24:29,859 –> 00:24:31,420 there’s been a slaughter among the 422 00:24:31,420 –> 00:24:33,280 people who follow Absalom. 423 00:24:33,280 –> 00:24:34,859 You gotta think how it might have been 424 00:24:34,859 –> 00:24:37,839 if you take this risky action. 425 00:24:37,839 –> 00:24:39,459 You’re gonna have your losses and once 426 00:24:39,459 –> 00:24:41,199 word gets round about your losses, 427 00:24:41,199 –> 00:24:43,020 people might lose confidence in you. 428 00:24:43,020 –> 00:24:44,920 They may think that Absalom’s a loser. 429 00:24:44,920 –> 00:24:47,880 This is not a time for rash action, Absalom. 430 00:24:47,880 –> 00:24:51,060 Don’t just make a spur of the moment decision. 431 00:24:51,060 –> 00:24:52,459 There are significant losses 432 00:24:52,459 –> 00:24:54,560 that could come as a result of this. 433 00:24:57,319 –> 00:25:01,640 Really, 12,000 people going after David and a handful? 434 00:25:04,060 –> 00:25:06,920 See, everything that Hushai does here 435 00:25:07,099 –> 00:25:09,479 he plays on unfounded fear. 436 00:25:09,479 –> 00:25:12,280 Verse 10, even the valiant men, 437 00:25:12,280 –> 00:25:14,180 even your most courageous man 438 00:25:14,180 –> 00:25:16,540 whose heart is like the heart of a lion 439 00:25:16,540 –> 00:25:19,300 will utterly melt with fear 440 00:25:19,300 –> 00:25:22,000 for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man 441 00:25:22,000 –> 00:25:24,599 and that those who are with him are valiant men. 442 00:25:26,780 –> 00:25:28,099 So again, just to be clear, 443 00:25:28,099 –> 00:25:29,739 these fears that are played up here 444 00:25:29,739 –> 00:25:31,439 are actually without foundation. 445 00:25:31,439 –> 00:25:34,219 The truth was, as we know from the scripture, 446 00:25:34,219 –> 00:25:36,099 that David was very vulnerable, 447 00:25:36,099 –> 00:25:37,880 that he was weary, 448 00:25:37,880 –> 00:25:40,640 that there were only a few people with him, 449 00:25:40,640 –> 00:25:44,300 and that if Absalom had listened to the advice 450 00:25:44,300 –> 00:25:47,640 of Ahithophel, and if these 12,000 men 451 00:25:47,640 –> 00:25:49,500 had gone after David that night, 452 00:25:49,500 –> 00:25:53,140 Absalom surely would have succeeded. 453 00:25:53,140 –> 00:25:54,020 Thank God he didn’t. 454 00:25:56,060 –> 00:25:59,640 And Hushai diverts him away by scaremongering. 455 00:26:01,180 –> 00:26:04,300 Now, flip that around and let’s draw the principle from it 456 00:26:04,300 –> 00:26:08,920 and remember this, that if you are listening 457 00:26:08,920 –> 00:26:12,239 to that which plays on unfounded fear, 458 00:26:13,099 –> 00:26:14,699 you’re listening to bad counsel. 459 00:26:16,500 –> 00:26:19,079 Second distinguishing mark of bad counsel 460 00:26:19,079 –> 00:26:23,339 is that it appeals to unbridled pride. 461 00:26:24,260 –> 00:26:26,640 I wonder if you noticed when this was read 462 00:26:26,640 –> 00:26:30,739 that Ahithophel’s plan actually puts himself at the center. 463 00:26:30,739 –> 00:26:33,479 Verse one of chapter 17, Ahithophel said to Absalom, 464 00:26:33,560 –> 00:26:36,119 let me choose 12,000 men. 465 00:26:36,119 –> 00:26:38,760 I will arise and pursue David tonight. 466 00:26:38,760 –> 00:26:41,400 I’ll come upon him while he’s weary and discouraged. 467 00:26:41,400 –> 00:26:43,459 I will strike down only the king 468 00:26:43,459 –> 00:26:45,680 and I will bring all the people back 469 00:26:45,680 –> 00:26:47,800 as a bride comes home to her husband. 470 00:26:49,520 –> 00:26:51,199 It may very well have been, then, 471 00:26:51,199 –> 00:26:54,359 that Ahithophel, the grandfather of Bathsheba, 472 00:26:54,359 –> 00:26:56,000 had taken it upon himself to say, 473 00:26:56,000 –> 00:26:58,599 I want to be the one who goes and gets him myself. 474 00:26:59,439 –> 00:27:04,439 Now, Hushai very cleverly picks up on this, 475 00:27:06,359 –> 00:27:11,319 and having picked holes in the first plan 476 00:27:11,319 –> 00:27:14,719 for immediate action that was presented by Ahithophel, 477 00:27:14,719 –> 00:27:17,680 Hushai now presents his alternative plan. 478 00:27:17,680 –> 00:27:22,040 Verse 11, my counsel is this, 479 00:27:23,380 –> 00:27:26,880 that all Israel be gathered to you, 480 00:27:26,880 –> 00:27:28,339 notice, not to Ahithophel, 481 00:27:28,400 –> 00:27:30,339 but to you Absalom, 482 00:27:30,339 –> 00:27:32,040 you need to be at the center of this, 483 00:27:32,040 –> 00:27:33,680 all Israel gather to you, 484 00:27:33,680 –> 00:27:38,680 from Dan to Beersheba as the sand by the sea for multitude 485 00:27:39,819 –> 00:27:44,819 and that you go to battle in person.” 486 00:27:46,579 –> 00:27:47,420 In other words, 487 00:27:47,420 –> 00:27:49,380 Absalom I don’t think this is a job 488 00:27:49,380 –> 00:27:51,160 that you should leave in the hands of Ahithophel 489 00:27:51,160 –> 00:27:52,660 or anyone else for that matter, 490 00:27:52,660 –> 00:27:54,020 I think this is really big 491 00:27:54,020 –> 00:27:56,540 and I think you need to be at the center of it. 492 00:27:56,540 –> 00:27:57,979 You are the man, 493 00:27:57,979 –> 00:27:59,660 you need to be seen to be leading this 494 00:27:59,660 –> 00:28:01,819 and you need to be seen to be leading this 495 00:28:01,819 –> 00:28:03,359 not just by 12,000 people 496 00:28:03,359 –> 00:28:06,579 but by an army that is the size of a multitude 497 00:28:06,579 –> 00:28:08,500 like the sands of the seashore gathered 498 00:28:08,500 –> 00:28:10,780 from the length and breadth of the entire nation. 499 00:28:10,780 –> 00:28:12,680 This needs to be your triumph, 500 00:28:12,680 –> 00:28:14,219 everyone needs to see it 501 00:28:14,219 –> 00:28:16,099 and the glory needs to belong to you, 502 00:28:16,099 –> 00:28:18,140 that’s what’s being said here. 503 00:28:18,140 –> 00:28:22,459 And Hushai paints this pcture of this vast army 504 00:28:22,459 –> 00:28:25,020 like the sand on the seashore 505 00:28:25,939 –> 00:28:27,900 and here’s Absalom at the front. 506 00:28:27,900 –> 00:28:29,300 Can’t you picture it Absalom, 507 00:28:29,300 –> 00:28:30,339 what a moment this is gonna be. 508 00:28:30,339 –> 00:28:33,219 You’re gonna be uniting all of these tribes. 509 00:28:33,219 –> 00:28:34,619 They’re all gonna be behind you 510 00:28:34,619 –> 00:28:37,040 and this is gonna be the most famous victory. 511 00:28:37,040 –> 00:28:39,540 So here’s what you have to do to accomplish that. 512 00:28:39,540 –> 00:28:42,880 You have to send your people out from Dan to Beersheba 513 00:28:42,880 –> 00:28:45,280 to reinstate the national draft, 514 00:28:45,280 –> 00:28:46,660 that’s what this is. 515 00:28:46,660 –> 00:28:51,500 Raise that army from the north, south, east and west. 516 00:28:51,540 –> 00:28:56,000 Send out the call to arms from Dan down to Beersheba. 517 00:28:57,060 –> 00:28:58,760 Now, how long does that take? 518 00:28:59,920 –> 00:29:02,800 Instituting the national draft, 519 00:29:02,800 –> 00:29:04,579 the new self-appointed government 520 00:29:04,579 –> 00:29:08,579 sending out officials all over the entire land, 521 00:29:08,579 –> 00:29:12,260 knocking on every door in the country 522 00:29:12,260 –> 00:29:15,140 and saying you’re being called up 523 00:29:15,140 –> 00:29:19,819 to join the new administration of King Absalom 524 00:29:19,880 –> 00:29:23,640 in his great campaign to eliminate David. 525 00:29:25,260 –> 00:29:28,079 And for sure, as that process went on 526 00:29:28,079 –> 00:29:30,140 of the new government officials knocking on doors, 527 00:29:30,140 –> 00:29:32,380 there were many, because Absalom was very popular, 528 00:29:32,380 –> 00:29:35,119 who would have responded to the call to arms. 529 00:29:35,119 –> 00:29:37,939 But surely you can see what’s gonna happen here. 530 00:29:39,180 –> 00:29:40,680 You get the knock on the door. 531 00:29:42,619 –> 00:29:45,219 Would you not be likely to say to yourself, 532 00:29:45,219 –> 00:29:47,180 is that really what I wanna do? 533 00:29:47,819 –> 00:29:51,699 Do I really wanna sign up and give myself to a campaign 534 00:29:51,699 –> 00:29:54,699 to eliminate God’s anointed king? 535 00:29:56,699 –> 00:29:58,560 I mean, if that’s the place where we’re at, 536 00:29:58,560 –> 00:30:01,780 I think it’s time for me to go find where David is 537 00:30:01,780 –> 00:30:03,099 and take my stand with him. 538 00:30:05,219 –> 00:30:07,020 And you see, over these weeks that followed 539 00:30:07,020 –> 00:30:09,540 while this plan B was pursued, 540 00:30:09,540 –> 00:30:12,680 that is exactly what happened, 541 00:30:12,680 –> 00:30:15,900 which is why, as we will see next week, 542 00:30:16,439 –> 00:30:18,439 when we get to chapter 18, 543 00:30:18,439 –> 00:30:20,920 where finally this mass army has been assembled 544 00:30:20,920 –> 00:30:23,920 on behalf of Absalom by that time, 545 00:30:23,920 –> 00:30:27,420 there’s a vast crowd numbering thousands 546 00:30:27,420 –> 00:30:29,400 who have come to join David at the base 547 00:30:29,400 –> 00:30:32,280 that he has now established in a place called Mahanin. 548 00:30:34,280 –> 00:30:37,680 You see, there was really one objective 549 00:30:37,680 –> 00:30:40,680 that Hushai was working with at this point. 550 00:30:41,599 –> 00:30:45,239 He was playing for time. 551 00:30:45,380 –> 00:30:47,599 He was playing for time. 552 00:30:48,619 –> 00:30:51,020 Time for David to escape, 553 00:30:51,020 –> 00:30:53,660 time for David to recover his strength, 554 00:30:53,660 –> 00:30:58,660 time for David to gather people who would be loyal to him 555 00:30:59,160 –> 00:31:01,180 so that the Lord’s anointed king 556 00:31:01,180 –> 00:31:04,819 would be preserved and delivered and saved. 557 00:31:06,540 –> 00:31:10,979 Well, Hushai I put up the most brilliant speech 558 00:31:10,979 –> 00:31:14,239 and accomplished what you would think was impossible 559 00:31:14,239 –> 00:31:16,819 by playing on unfounded fears 560 00:31:16,819 –> 00:31:18,979 and appealing to unbridled pride, 561 00:31:20,219 –> 00:31:22,540 what he managed to do was to divert, 562 00:31:22,540 –> 00:31:25,500 quite brilliantly divert Absalom from the path 563 00:31:25,500 –> 00:31:27,319 that surely if he had followed it 564 00:31:27,319 –> 00:31:29,680 would have led to the success of the rebellion. 565 00:31:31,400 –> 00:31:35,520 And in this, we’re told the hand of God was seen. 566 00:31:35,520 –> 00:31:38,719 Verse 14, Absalom and all the men of Israel 567 00:31:38,719 –> 00:31:41,959 said, the counsel of Hushai the archite 568 00:31:42,380 –> 00:31:44,719 and that is better than the council of Ahithophel. 569 00:31:44,719 –> 00:31:47,020 They were swung by the playing on fear 570 00:31:47,020 –> 00:31:48,699 and the appealing to pride. 571 00:31:49,959 –> 00:31:53,280 And for that reason, the immediate strike force 572 00:31:53,280 –> 00:31:55,719 did not go after David that night. 573 00:31:55,719 –> 00:31:58,839 David was able to recover his strength, 574 00:31:58,839 –> 00:32:03,479 to set up a base and to gather loyal people 575 00:32:03,479 –> 00:32:08,479 who by their thousand came to take their stand with him. 576 00:32:08,540 –> 00:32:12,099 And look at what verse 14 says. 577 00:32:12,099 –> 00:32:14,219 Absalom and all the men of Israel said 578 00:32:14,219 –> 00:32:15,939 the council of Hushai is better 579 00:32:15,939 –> 00:32:17,500 than the council of Ahitophel. 580 00:32:17,500 –> 00:32:18,319 Why was that? 581 00:32:18,319 –> 00:32:21,060 What led them to that extraordinary turn? 582 00:32:21,060 –> 00:32:23,680 It was because the lord had ordained 583 00:32:23,680 –> 00:32:27,699 to defeat the good council of Ahithophel 584 00:32:27,699 –> 00:32:31,060 so that the lord might bring harm upon Absalom. 585 00:32:32,280 –> 00:32:36,500 God worked in this to bring the great rebellion 586 00:32:36,500 –> 00:32:41,500 to an end and he worked in this to preserve 587 00:32:42,560 –> 00:32:46,939 and to protect his own anointed king. 588 00:32:49,619 –> 00:32:51,699 This is an amazing story. 589 00:32:51,699 –> 00:32:53,420 But let’s just in these last minutes 590 00:32:53,420 –> 00:32:56,819 take a step back and ask, as we think, 591 00:32:56,819 –> 00:32:58,699 well what is this fascinating story 592 00:32:58,699 –> 00:33:00,859 really have to do with us? 593 00:33:01,780 –> 00:33:03,380 Let me suggest to you this, 594 00:33:03,380 –> 00:33:05,420 that this story is really about 595 00:33:05,420 –> 00:33:08,099 how God restrains evil 596 00:33:08,099 –> 00:33:11,180 and how he advances his purpose for the world. 597 00:33:11,180 –> 00:33:12,979 That’s what it’s about, isn’t it? 598 00:33:12,979 –> 00:33:15,560 It’s about how God restrains the evil 599 00:33:15,560 –> 00:33:17,180 that otherwise would have led 600 00:33:17,180 –> 00:33:19,180 to the destruction of the anointed king. 601 00:33:20,619 –> 00:33:22,719 And how he advances his purpose in the world. 602 00:33:22,719 –> 00:33:24,780 How he protects the life of David 603 00:33:24,780 –> 00:33:26,920 and brings Absalom’s scheme to nothing. 604 00:33:28,500 –> 00:33:30,660 Notice that I use the word restrain. 605 00:33:30,660 –> 00:33:33,540 God does restrain evil and thank God for that. 606 00:33:33,540 –> 00:33:36,020 We do need to remember that in these days. 607 00:33:37,300 –> 00:33:40,300 Restraint does not mean eliminate. 608 00:33:41,400 –> 00:33:44,140 Evil has plagued our worlds since the day 609 00:33:44,140 –> 00:33:48,180 when Adam and Eve were turfed out of the Garden of Eden. 610 00:33:48,180 –> 00:33:50,619 You remember they had the knowledge of good 611 00:33:50,619 –> 00:33:52,500 and when they ate of the tree 612 00:33:52,500 –> 00:33:55,339 of the knowledge of good and evil, what did they get? 613 00:33:55,339 –> 00:33:56,900 They got the knowledge of evil 614 00:33:56,900 –> 00:33:58,140 added to the knowledge of good, 615 00:33:58,140 –> 00:34:00,979 and we’d been living with that knowledge of evil ever since. 616 00:34:00,979 –> 00:34:03,180 We’re sick of it and we can’t get rid of it. 617 00:34:03,979 –> 00:34:08,179 And we won’t be rid of it in this life. 618 00:34:09,699 –> 00:34:12,100 Look at the long history of this world. 619 00:34:12,100 –> 00:34:15,679 Where and when have human beings ever overcome evil? 620 00:34:17,520 –> 00:34:20,379 When has there ever been an end to violence 621 00:34:20,379 –> 00:34:22,580 and to crime and to hatred and to war? 622 00:34:22,580 –> 00:34:25,219 No government, no country, no political philosophy 623 00:34:25,219 –> 00:34:26,840 has ever achieved it ever. 624 00:34:28,580 –> 00:34:29,419 Why? 625 00:34:29,419 –> 00:34:31,659 Because this world at its core is a world 626 00:34:31,659 –> 00:34:34,780 that is in rebellion against God. 627 00:34:34,780 –> 00:34:36,739 And that world in rebellion against God 628 00:34:36,739 –> 00:34:38,919 lives with the scars of evil 629 00:34:38,919 –> 00:34:41,080 as long as that rebellion continues. 630 00:34:42,739 –> 00:34:46,100 But thank God he does restrain evil. 631 00:34:46,100 –> 00:34:49,080 While it is true that day after day 632 00:34:50,260 –> 00:34:54,120 we have that awful experience of seeing some other horror 633 00:34:54,120 –> 00:34:56,800 that has erupted someplace in our country 634 00:34:56,800 –> 00:34:58,439 or elsewhere in the world. 635 00:34:59,379 –> 00:35:01,739 And we find ourselves weeping and saying, 636 00:35:01,739 –> 00:35:03,860 is there no end to evil? 637 00:35:03,860 –> 00:35:06,340 We must also remember this, 638 00:35:07,699 –> 00:35:12,360 while this world is a long, long way from heaven, 639 00:35:12,360 –> 00:35:14,280 it is not heaven. 640 00:35:15,419 –> 00:35:17,780 Thank God it is not hell either. 641 00:35:19,399 –> 00:35:24,399 However great the pain and suffering in our lives, 642 00:35:25,199 –> 00:35:29,979 the pain and suffering in our lives could be much, much more 643 00:35:29,979 –> 00:35:33,600 if it were not for the grace and the kindness of our God 644 00:35:33,600 –> 00:35:36,979 in and through our Lord Jesus Christ. 645 00:35:38,719 –> 00:35:43,719 God does restrain evil and thank God for it. 646 00:35:45,199 –> 00:35:48,219 And this story reminds us 647 00:35:48,219 –> 00:35:50,820 that he does it in three very clear ways. 648 00:35:50,820 –> 00:35:53,159 The first is he does it by his own direct 649 00:35:53,179 –> 00:35:57,760 and secret action, perhaps only in eternity 650 00:35:57,760 –> 00:36:01,139 will we know those things that God has prevented 651 00:36:01,139 –> 00:36:03,280 in his great mercy and in his grace. 652 00:36:03,280 –> 00:36:07,239 He does not eliminate evil, but he does restrain it. 653 00:36:07,239 –> 00:36:10,320 And you see that taught very, very clearly in this story. 654 00:36:11,239 –> 00:36:14,600 Absalom changes his mind, 655 00:36:14,600 –> 00:36:18,120 and it is the hand of God working invisibly 656 00:36:18,120 –> 00:36:21,040 and secretly in his heart that brings about this turn 657 00:36:21,040 –> 00:36:23,360 so that he does not pursue the strategy 658 00:36:23,360 –> 00:36:25,919 that undoubtedly would have led him to success, 659 00:36:25,919 –> 00:36:29,159 but ends up following another plan 660 00:36:29,159 –> 00:36:31,459 that ultimately led to his own destruction. 661 00:36:32,479 –> 00:36:33,459 And why did that happen? 662 00:36:33,459 –> 00:36:36,280 Because God ordained to defeat 663 00:36:36,280 –> 00:36:39,280 the good counsel of Ahithophel. 664 00:36:39,280 –> 00:36:42,399 This is how God works in the world, by the way. 665 00:36:42,399 –> 00:36:44,800 Absalom rejected the truth, 666 00:36:45,760 –> 00:36:48,840 and those who reject the truth under God’s judgment 667 00:36:48,860 –> 00:36:51,239 end up embracing the lie. 668 00:36:52,199 –> 00:36:54,320 And if you run the Bible story forward 669 00:36:54,320 –> 00:36:56,199 all the way to the end time, 670 00:36:56,199 –> 00:36:58,080 you have this pictured for us 671 00:36:58,080 –> 00:37:02,780 in 2 Thessalonians chapter two and verse four, 672 00:37:02,780 –> 00:37:04,280 because there we find someone 673 00:37:04,280 –> 00:37:07,479 who has the spirit of Absalom, big-time, 674 00:37:08,399 –> 00:37:10,020 who raises himself up, 675 00:37:10,020 –> 00:37:12,959 exalts himself against the Lord’s anointed. 676 00:37:12,959 –> 00:37:15,520 His name is the antichrist. 677 00:37:15,520 –> 00:37:17,679 He is sometimes referred to as the man of sin 678 00:37:17,679 –> 00:37:18,800 or the man of lawlessness, 679 00:37:19,060 –> 00:37:21,239 and here’s this embodiment of evil. 680 00:37:21,239 –> 00:37:23,439 And he exalts himself. 681 00:37:23,439 –> 00:37:26,500 The rebellion finds its focus in him. 682 00:37:26,500 –> 00:37:29,340 And you say, well, how does God deal with that? 683 00:37:29,340 –> 00:37:31,300 Listen to how God deals with that. 684 00:37:31,300 –> 00:37:34,379 God sends a strong delusion 685 00:37:36,399 –> 00:37:38,840 so that they may believe what is false. 686 00:37:39,679 –> 00:37:42,280 That is exactly what God did with Absalom 687 00:37:42,280 –> 00:37:43,560 in a secret way. 688 00:37:43,560 –> 00:37:44,800 He worked in the heart 689 00:37:44,800 –> 00:37:46,780 so that the man who rejected the truth 690 00:37:47,040 –> 00:37:48,379 ended up embracing a lie 691 00:37:48,379 –> 00:37:50,260 and he did it to his own destruction. 692 00:37:50,260 –> 00:37:52,139 And that’s exactly how antichrist 693 00:37:52,139 –> 00:37:53,439 will come to an end too. 694 00:37:55,219 –> 00:37:56,919 Second, and this is very important. 695 00:37:56,919 –> 00:37:58,360 How does God restrain evil 696 00:37:58,360 –> 00:38:01,080 and advance His good purpose in the world? 697 00:38:01,080 –> 00:38:04,540 He does it very clearly in this story we see 698 00:38:04,540 –> 00:38:06,580 through courageous people 699 00:38:06,580 –> 00:38:09,219 in strategic places. 700 00:38:09,219 –> 00:38:11,100 God worked directly and secretly 701 00:38:11,100 –> 00:38:12,479 in a way that only he could 702 00:38:12,479 –> 00:38:14,100 to turn the heart of Absalom. 703 00:38:14,100 –> 00:38:14,919 The heart of the king 704 00:38:14,919 –> 00:38:16,260 is in the hand of the Lord. 705 00:38:17,520 –> 00:38:20,719 But God also works through means 706 00:38:20,719 –> 00:38:23,879 and he works very strikingly 707 00:38:23,879 –> 00:38:26,040 through the means of this man, Hushai. 708 00:38:26,040 –> 00:38:28,459 How courageous he was. 709 00:38:28,459 –> 00:38:32,260 And he goes into this darkest of places. 710 00:38:33,719 –> 00:38:36,780 He was not the only one 711 00:38:36,780 –> 00:38:38,239 who took great risks 712 00:38:38,239 –> 00:38:41,340 because he was loyal to God’s anointed king. 713 00:38:41,340 –> 00:38:43,179 In fact if you read the rest of the story 714 00:38:43,179 –> 00:38:45,179 and I hope you will, it’s fascinating, 715 00:38:45,179 –> 00:38:48,219 David set up a whole network of communication 716 00:38:49,219 –> 00:38:52,340 to enable Hushai to get word out to David 717 00:38:52,340 –> 00:38:54,659 and there were two guys who were good runners, 718 00:38:54,659 –> 00:38:56,739 both sons of priests. 719 00:38:56,739 –> 00:39:00,020 There was an unnamed servant girl, 720 00:39:00,020 –> 00:39:01,739 a real heroine of the story, 721 00:39:01,739 –> 00:39:03,939 a couple who had a substantial house 722 00:39:03,939 –> 00:39:05,340 with a well in the garden 723 00:39:05,340 –> 00:39:07,040 and were able to hide the runners 724 00:39:07,040 –> 00:39:09,379 when otherwise they would have been eliminated. 725 00:39:09,379 –> 00:39:11,860 God had his people. 726 00:39:11,860 –> 00:39:14,459 Rather like he has the daughter of Pharaoh 727 00:39:14,540 –> 00:39:18,580 who is the means by which the life of Moses is preserved 728 00:39:18,580 –> 00:39:20,060 or the widow of Zarathuth 729 00:39:20,060 –> 00:39:23,500 who is the means by which Elijah’s life is preserved. 730 00:39:23,500 –> 00:39:25,919 God has his courageous people 731 00:39:25,919 –> 00:39:29,280 in dangerous places, dark places 732 00:39:30,840 –> 00:39:33,379 and through them he restrains evil 733 00:39:33,379 –> 00:39:35,179 and he advances his good purpose. 734 00:39:35,179 –> 00:39:38,979 Here’s the question that comes out of that for us. 735 00:39:40,719 –> 00:39:44,340 What can you do to restrain evil 736 00:39:44,340 –> 00:39:48,139 and to help the cause of God’s great anointed king? 737 00:39:50,199 –> 00:39:52,280 Let us remember to thank God 738 00:39:52,280 –> 00:39:56,040 and to pray for courageous people 739 00:39:56,040 –> 00:39:59,060 who work in strategic places 740 00:40:00,199 –> 00:40:02,860 and are God’s gift and means 741 00:40:02,860 –> 00:40:05,679 by which much evil is restrained. 742 00:40:05,679 –> 00:40:09,760 Let us thank God for police men and women. 743 00:40:09,760 –> 00:40:12,020 Let us thank God for those who serve in our army 744 00:40:12,120 –> 00:40:14,459 and navy and air force and Marines, 745 00:40:14,459 –> 00:40:18,360 security and intelligence services. 746 00:40:18,360 –> 00:40:20,679 From people who confront darkness 747 00:40:20,679 –> 00:40:22,919 often in different ways. 748 00:40:22,919 –> 00:40:26,560 Teachers who may be early warnings 749 00:40:26,560 –> 00:40:27,979 in one way or another. 750 00:40:27,979 –> 00:40:31,520 Social workers who have such an important role. 751 00:40:31,520 –> 00:40:33,040 Psychiatrist, psychologists, 752 00:40:33,040 –> 00:40:35,120 the list goes on and on and on. 753 00:40:35,120 –> 00:40:37,679 God works through means 754 00:40:38,540 –> 00:40:41,379 and we see that in the story 755 00:40:41,439 –> 00:40:43,560 and therefore the challenge that comes to us 756 00:40:43,560 –> 00:40:46,260 is as we find ourselves in this dark world, 757 00:40:46,260 –> 00:40:49,459 in what good way may God deploy us also 758 00:40:49,459 –> 00:40:51,820 to be restraint on something that is dark 759 00:40:51,820 –> 00:40:55,260 and to be a means of the advance 760 00:40:55,260 –> 00:40:56,860 of his good purpose in the world. 761 00:40:56,860 –> 00:40:57,899 And then here’s the last thing. 762 00:40:57,899 –> 00:41:00,419 God works directly, He works through people 763 00:41:00,419 –> 00:41:01,919 for whom we should thank Him. 764 00:41:03,060 –> 00:41:04,939 He works ultimately by bringing back 765 00:41:04,939 –> 00:41:07,239 His anointed King and that’s where the story goes 766 00:41:07,239 –> 00:41:08,580 and that’s where we will be, God willing, 767 00:41:08,580 –> 00:41:10,879 where we wrap the series up next week. 768 00:41:12,080 –> 00:41:14,360 And, of course, when David comes back 769 00:41:14,360 –> 00:41:16,800 and the rebellion is crushed, 770 00:41:17,620 –> 00:41:19,840 that is pointing forward very wonderfully 771 00:41:19,840 –> 00:41:22,199 to the day when our Lord Jesus Christ 772 00:41:22,199 –> 00:41:25,459 in power and glory will defeat all of His enemies. 773 00:41:26,540 –> 00:41:27,939 And you know, the Bible speaks 774 00:41:27,939 –> 00:41:30,580 about the battle of Armageddon. 775 00:41:32,780 –> 00:41:34,760 Don’t think for a moment, by the way, 776 00:41:34,760 –> 00:41:36,459 that what that means is that there’s 777 00:41:36,459 –> 00:41:40,520 some great titanic struggle that Jesus barely wins. 778 00:41:41,899 –> 00:41:43,959 What that refers to, and if you look at it 779 00:41:43,959 –> 00:41:47,260 in the book of Revelation you’ll see this for sure, 780 00:41:47,260 –> 00:41:51,179 that you have a gathering of all that hates God 781 00:41:51,179 –> 00:41:54,340 and all that is antagonistic towards his Christ 782 00:41:54,340 –> 00:41:57,179 and that all the embodiment of evil 783 00:41:57,179 –> 00:42:01,340 rallies as one and comes together 784 00:42:01,340 –> 00:42:05,780 in a supreme assault against God 785 00:42:05,780 –> 00:42:08,060 and against his anointed. 786 00:42:08,260 –> 00:42:11,360 Jesus Christ appears in glory 787 00:42:11,360 –> 00:42:13,300 and this is what it says in Thessalonians, 788 00:42:13,300 –> 00:42:18,300 he will overthrow them by the breath of his mouth 789 00:42:20,159 –> 00:42:21,979 and the splendor of his coming. 790 00:42:21,979 –> 00:42:24,820 In other words, when all evil is gathered together 791 00:42:24,820 –> 00:42:28,899 at the last time the Lord Jesus will appear in his glory 792 00:42:28,899 –> 00:42:31,959 and pfft, you’re gone. 793 00:42:32,919 –> 00:42:34,300 That’s how it will be. 794 00:42:34,300 –> 00:42:36,139 And you know what, when you know 795 00:42:36,159 –> 00:42:40,699 that the risen Lord Jesus Christ has that kind of sovereignty, 796 00:42:40,699 –> 00:42:44,600 that kind of power, you will have absolutely 797 00:42:44,600 –> 00:42:46,739 no difficulty whatsoever in deciding 798 00:42:46,739 –> 00:42:50,959 which side you want to be on. 799 00:42:50,959 –> 00:42:55,959 Father, let us be found on the side of the anointed king. 800 00:42:58,659 –> 00:43:02,139 Work by your own secret power to restrain much evil 801 00:43:02,139 –> 00:43:07,139 and use us in every way that we can be used 802 00:43:07,500 –> 00:43:09,340 to be for light and for good 803 00:43:09,340 –> 00:43:11,739 in this dark world in which we live, 804 00:43:11,739 –> 00:43:14,100 and hasten the day when the king will come back 805 00:43:14,100 –> 00:43:16,300 and evil will be no more, 806 00:43:16,300 –> 00:43:18,959 and maybe then we be found with him 807 00:43:18,959 –> 00:43:21,939 and for him forever and forever, 808 00:43:21,939 –> 00:43:24,679 for these things we ask in Jesus’ name 809 00:43:24,679 –> 00:43:26,840 and all God’s people said, amen.