This chapter describes Absalom receiving counsel from two different sources – Ahithophel his advisor, and Hushai, David’s friend/mole inside the palace. Hushai’s counsel is judged to be wiser, and Hushai secretly sends word to David about the plot to pursue him.
“Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, ‘Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. Now therefore send quickly and tell David, “Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.” ‘ ” (v15-16)
God is on David’s side, even though at a glance it may be hard to see it. David and all those loyal to him have fled their home (except the priests and Hushai). Yet, there is great hope, for God has delivered David from a bloody civil war in the heart of Jerusalem, an He has also provided a role for David’s friend as advisor to his ‘enemy’, his son Absalom. In addition, everywhere that David’s party camps they are met with fresh food and supplies from the locals, so God and many Israelites still honor David as the rightful king.
There are many promises in scripture regarding God’s provision. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor 9:8) “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Pt 1:3-4)
You may notice that those verses focus on spiritual provision, not physical/worldly provision – that was intentional. David was given some physical provision (food and lodging) during this ordeal, however, God’s main provision was spiritual. Nowhere in these chapters does it say that David was afraid, or anxious, or worried. God gave David ‘abounding grace’ and ‘things pertaining to godliness’ so he could ‘escape the corruption from worldly sinful desires’ (ie. Absalom’s hunger for power).
No matter what our level of physical provision is, God offers abundant spiritual provision. Often times those who are ‘physically poor’ are ‘spiritually rich’, because they rely solely on God, not the resources around them. Inversely, those who are ‘physically rich’ are often ‘spiritually poor’ because they have so many other resources upon which they can rely.
I encourage us to seek God’s ‘abundant grace’ and ‘things pertaining to godliness’, rather than desire the ‘corrupt’ things of this world. Let’s be content with what we have physically, and hunger for more of God’s spiritual abundance.
Father God, our Abundantly Generous Provider, holy is Your name. We praise You for the countless blessings which You bestow upon us – blessings of grace and mercy. We also thank You for physical provision, however much we receive. Father please teach us to be generous as You are generous, sharing all that we have, both physically and spiritually. In the name of Jesus, the ‘richest’ and most generous person to ever walk this earth, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training