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HUSHAI CREATED FEAR IN ABSALOM’S CAMP
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
2 Samuel 17

Joshua 1:6-9

 

“Only be thou strong

and very courageous…”

 

HUSHAI CREATED FEAR IN ABSALOM’S CAMP
 
Absalom asked for the opinion of Hushai. He told him of the counsel that Ahithophel had given, and asked if it was acceptable or if he should seek a second opinion. Hushai began by saying, “The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time” (2 Sam 17:7). In his speech, Hushai seemed to have aroused fear in the hearts of Absalom and the men that followed him. 2 Samuel 17:14 reveals that “…the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.”
 
Hushai spoke of David as a king of Israel who did not give up easily. They were also familiar with David’s character. This was what Hushai said, “… thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men” (2 Sam 17:8-10). He painted the character of David and his men convincingly. The supporters of Absalom knew the abilities of David because they were defectors. They were also familiar with the previous victories of David and how he became the king of Israel. Hushai’s counsel was a strategy to buy time.
 
Hushai counselled Absalom that the only way to defeat David was to gather all Israel from Dan to Beersheba, and go to war. They would then be able to defeat David. He gave a logical proposal and convincingly showed how it would be impossible to defeat David otherwise.
 
THOUGHT: Godly counsellors are a gift from the Lord.

PRAYER: Father, may I conform to the counsel of the wise.

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