2 Samuel 17:15-29 The Lord in the midst of chaos

2 Samuel 17:15-29

15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead. 16 “Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”

17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David. 18 But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard. 19 The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there. 20 When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, “Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied, “They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” Absalom’s men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.

21 Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed. 22 So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.

23 When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.

24 David soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River… 26 Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead. 27 When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim. 28 They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, 29 honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”

Background

Ahithophel presented a plan to engage David in a night attack while his men are physically wearied. Hushai’s plan involving a pan-Israelite army will take much longer to implement, but it is what David and his troops needed. Hence, Hushai must send his messengers to warn David of the danger should Absalom decide on Ahithophel’s plan. Even if the immediate danger of the night attack is passed. There is still the impending battle with the entire Israelite army. Can the messengers get pass Absalom’s closely guarded route out of the city? Could David and his men who is severely outnumbered fend off the whole Israelite army with no food and supplies? Today’s passage teaches us not to be discouraged when there is no clear solution in sight, but to hang onto the promises of God. For God is able to cause chaotic circumstances to work out perfectly for His people.

Observation

Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight – Upon hearing Ahithophel’s advice, Hushai is anxious to send message to David and his men to evacuate from the shallows of Jordan River before Ahithophel and his men arrive. Hence, Hushai withdraws immediately after making his speech before Absalom makes his final decision. The messengers, Jonathan and Ahima-az are given Hushai’s message but while en-route to David’s location, they are spotted by a youth who has been posted to intercept the messengers. Absalom sends men to apprehend them but they chance upon a couple who is sympathetic to David’s course and hid them in their well. Having eluded Absalom’s men, they continue on their journey towards David. David evacuates his troops that night and march through the wilderness unknown to them that Ahithophel’s counsel has already been scuttled. Nevertheless, an early evacuation will allow them ample time to regroup and prepare for the eventual battle with Absalom’s army at the forest of Ephraim.

When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself – The sagacious Ahithophel already realizes, the adoption of Hushai’s plans spells certain doom for them. And with the failure of the rebel course, there will also be no future for himself once David is reinstated. Ahithophel’s suicide has conferred on him the most notorious traitor of all. Ahithophel, in all his wisdom has failed to recognize the divine favor that was on David, and in rebelling against David, he has pit himself directly against God.

You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness – David and his men are making their way through the wilderness and upon arrival at Mahanaim, they are met by three noble men who provide them with food and supplies. These men, being non-Israelites are moved to aid David in his time of need. By this time, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River.

Truth

1. The chaos of any circumstance does not imply the absence of God. No matter how chaotic your situation may be, God has promised to be the Lord in the midst of it. For God is the Lord of chaos and He is able to find order in the midst of disorder. The natural man cannot be at rest until he finds order and clarity in his physical circumstances. Hence, the minds of many are reeling from fatigue and falling into depression and mental illness. However, because our confidence is in God who is the Lord in the midst of the chaos, we are able to watch the storm unperturbed by it. David’s life is suddenly thrown into chaos, when his own son organises an uprising against him. Within a few hours, he is at Mount Olives fearing for his life. The next few hours are peppered with reports of more defections and more chaos. With the added threat of his chief counsellor Ahithophel defecting to Absalom’s side, there is nothing but hell and chaos on earth. God proves Himself faithful and firmly in control when He inserts Hushai into Absalom’s war council to frustrate Ahithophel’s plans. He also places the couple in the messengers’ path and hid them in the well. He also arranges an early evacuation for David’s troops by allowing Hushai’s outdated message to get through. This way, it allows them to recuperate under the support of the three men of substance who came to their aid with food and supplies. Our circumstances may be chaotic and incomprehensible, we may even think that God is punishing us. But our Lord will prove Himself faithful no matter how bad things are. Look for the Lord in the midst of the chaos, for He is able to cause everything to fall into place in the most surprising way. Therefore, when chaos descends upon us, we must not be perturbed by it but look out for the Lord in the midst of the storm.
2. In your time of dire need, the ones who reach out to you may not be related to you. When people are in dire need, they immediately look to their relatives only to be rejected and disappointed. The three men of substance who met David at Mahanaim were not Israelites and were related to him. Hence, we must not be discouraged even when our relatives abandon us. We must look to God alone allowing Him to bring aid from unexpected places.

Application

Are you a control freak who wants to understand everything and have everything under your control? And you will not rest until you are able to make sense of it all. Perhaps, it is time to let God take complete control over your life and trust Him to act in good time.

Dear Lord, when I could no longer make sense of my circumstances, when all seems lost in a sea of chaos, I trust you as the Lord who stills the storm. Still my mind and show me the way that I should go. Even though my relatives may abandon me, I trust that you will bring help from unexpected places. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.