This is what he had prayed. II Samuel 15:31 “And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
Well, the Scriptures tell us exactly what the LORD did in response to David’s prayer. He used David’s friend Hushai to give Absalom counsel. And it was Hushai’s counsel that was accepted and followed by Absalom. And it was this counsel that led to Absalom’s downfall and defeat at the hand of Joab and David’s army.
II Samuel 16:23 “And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”
Yet Absalom wanted to hear the advice of David’s friend Hushai. And here’s what resulted. II Samuel 17:14 “And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.”
When you read God’s word, you find some very amazing things. Here we see that the LORD’s hand was at work when Hushai spoke a word contrary to Ahithophel. And the Bible tells us exactly what the LORD intended. In answer to the prayer of King David, it was God’s intention to both defeat the counsel of Ahithophel and then to quote “bring evil upon Absalom.”
So, here is God, the Sovereign God, at work upon the lives of men; something we can’t tell is taking place and something that will always be a mystery to us. Mostly we’d simply prefer to have God bless us and provide for us and take care of us. And God, all the while is working behind the scenes in our lives.
Yet, how often have we prayed like this one? “LORD, so bless and so touch the life of my enemy that his or her heart turns completely to you.”
Here’s what Jesus says we aught to do when we, like David, are railed against. Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…” Luke 6:28 “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
No, there is not a single thing wrong with praying for yourself and asking God to intervene on your behalf. But in the day of persecution and rejection, there is a prayer that Jesus says is always in order. It’s one that we can always pray. We can ask the LORD to shower His goodness down upon them.
Such a prayer will likely change your heart when you begin to pray this way, folks. It may even make you more aware of the power of your prayers.
First, it’s good and it’s natural to weep.
Second, it’s best to turn to the One Who is The God of All Comfort.
Third, it’s always time to pray.
David, I doubt, had ever envisioned the outcome that ensued or the effect of that prayer. And while he believed that the LORD would indeed answer his prayer, he made it absolutely clear to those in charge of the Israeli army that, should Absalom be caught, that he should be quote “treated gently.” Go on to page five
Well, the Scriptures tell us exactly what the LORD did in response to David’s prayer. He used David’s friend Hushai to give Absalom counsel. And it was Hushai’s counsel that was accepted and followed by Absalom. And it was this counsel that led to Absalom’s downfall and defeat at the hand of Joab and David’s army.
II Samuel 16:23 “And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”
Yet Absalom wanted to hear the advice of David’s friend Hushai. And here’s what resulted. II Samuel 17:14 “And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.”
When you read God’s word, you find some very amazing things. Here we see that the LORD’s hand was at work when Hushai spoke a word contrary to Ahithophel. And the Bible tells us exactly what the LORD intended. In answer to the prayer of King David, it was God’s intention to both defeat the counsel of Ahithophel and then to quote “bring evil upon Absalom.”
So, here is God, the Sovereign God, at work upon the lives of men; something we can’t tell is taking place and something that will always be a mystery to us. Mostly we’d simply prefer to have God bless us and provide for us and take care of us. And God, all the while is working behind the scenes in our lives.
Yet, how often have we prayed like this one? “LORD, so bless and so touch the life of my enemy that his or her heart turns completely to you.”
Here’s what Jesus says we aught to do when we, like David, are railed against. Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…” Luke 6:28 “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
No, there is not a single thing wrong with praying for yourself and asking God to intervene on your behalf. But in the day of persecution and rejection, there is a prayer that Jesus says is always in order. It’s one that we can always pray. We can ask the LORD to shower His goodness down upon them.
Such a prayer will likely change your heart when you begin to pray this way, folks. It may even make you more aware of the power of your prayers.
First, it’s good and it’s natural to weep.
Second, it’s best to turn to the One Who is The God of All Comfort.
Third, it’s always time to pray.
David, I doubt, had ever envisioned the outcome that ensued or the effect of that prayer. And while he believed that the LORD would indeed answer his prayer, he made it absolutely clear to those in charge of the Israeli army that, should Absalom be caught, that he should be quote “treated gently.” Go on to page five