2 Samuel 17:14-20: a reflection

14Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom. 15Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way. 16Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’” 17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and report to them, and they went and told King David; for they couldn’t risk being seen coming into the city. 18But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there. 19The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known. 20Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

Absalom has rebelled against his father David, and the outcome of the rebellion hangs on whose counsel Absalom will follow. Ahithophel's counsel is shrewd and would likely have destroyed David; Hushai's counsel, secretly working for David, is less so. And Absalom chooses Hushai's. The text tells us why: the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, in order to bring disaster on Absalom. Behind the human choice, God was at work, overruling the wise counsel that would have harmed his servant.

Notice what the text reveals: that behind the visible human decisions, God was quietly at work. Ahithophel's counsel was sound; humanly, it should have prevailed. But God had ordained to defeat it, and so, through Absalom's own choice, the good counsel was set aside and David was spared. God was governing the outcome, overruling even shrewd human plans to protect his servant and accomplish his purpose.

That is a quiet assurance for us: that God governs the outcomes of events, even working behind human decisions we cannot control. Schemes may be laid against us, wise and likely to succeed; and we may be unable to counter them. But God is able to overrule even shrewd plans, turning decisions in ways we could never arrange, to protect his people and accomplish his purpose. When you face plans or schemes you cannot counter, remember that God governs the outcome, and is able to defeat even the shrewdest counsel laid against you. Do not despair before human cleverness arrayed against you; the God who defeated Ahithophel's counsel to spare David is at work behind the events, and able to overrule them for your good and his purpose.

Lord, when Absalom rebelled, the shrewd counsel of Ahithophel that would have destroyed David was set aside for Hushai's, because you had ordained to defeat it and spare your servant; behind the human choice, you were quietly at work. Give me that quiet assurance: that you govern the outcomes of events, even working behind human decisions I cannot control. Schemes may be laid against me, wise and likely to succeed; and I may be unable to counter them. But you are able to overrule even shrewd plans, turning decisions in ways I could never arrange, to protect your people and accomplish your purpose. When I face plans or schemes I cannot counter, help me remember that you govern the outcome, and are able to defeat even the shrewdest counsel laid against me. Keep me from despairing before human cleverness arrayed against me; you who defeated Ahithophel's counsel to spare David are at work behind the events, and able to overrule them for my good and your purpose. I trust you to govern what I cannot, Lord.