Listen & Check the Word - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) August 16, 2022

There once was a man named Ahithophel who'd been an adviser to King David. His advice was considered as the very word of God (2 Samuel 16:23). That's how wise people thought he was. When David's son - Absalom - usurped the throne, even he sought the word of the legendary counselor.

However, the story of Ahithophel and Absalom is a crucial lesson to never take someone's advice at face value. No matter how wise and knowledgeable that person might be. Each of us as children of God, have a right to hear Him (John 10:27). Indeed, that is our inheritance and we must not abandon that birthright. Therefore, we must always take the suggestions of others and seek God's direction. If not, we could get into terrible trouble.

Absalom, seeking to cement his position, called on Ahithophel who advised him to sleep with his father's concubines. This was a group of ten women left to care for the palace when King David, his officials and their families fled in fear that Absalom would slaughter them. These women were likely left because they were a threat to nobody. And yet, Ahithophel suggested sleeping with them so the people would know he was his own man and didn't care about the previous king (2 Samuel 16:21). In response, Absalom set up a tent on the palace rooftop, raping these women in relative view and hearing of all nearby!

Absalom could have sought a second opinion. He could have called for a prophet to seek the face of the Lord on this sinful suggestion before putting it into action. He could have taken some time to fast and pray, thereby seeking the Lord on his own. Or, he could have simply consulted the Bible (the Torah had God's wisdom and his people's history then as it does now) to understand why Ahithophel's recommendation, among many other wrong decisions, would spell his ultimate downfall.

The new king forgot that God takes this thing of honoring parents very seriously. More than once, the Bible warns people not to dishonor their father by having sex with his wife (Leviticus 18:8; Deuteronomy 22:30). Reuben equally slept with his father's concubine and the result was he was cursed by Jacob. He also lost his inheritance as the firstborn son and his position as the head of his father's family. Those privileges went to his nephews - Ephraim and Manasseh. This wisdom was immediately accessible to Absalom but sadly, he valued the word of a man above the wisdom of God.

And so, instead of allowing God to guide him, Absalom did what he thought was right. His hate for his father fueled more sin. He eventually lost his life when his beautiful, long hair got caught in a tree and David's soldiers killed him in battle. Things would have likely been different if he'd let the word of God direct His steps from the beginning. There'd been an heir apparent but this older brother would never have become king because he raped Absalom's little sister. So, if Absalom hadn't allowed hatred to cloud his mind (and if he hadn't murdered his sister's rapist and conducted a coup), God may have given him the throne in the end. What a sad irony. Unfortunately, like most of us, he was inpatient and he allowed satan to use him to his detriment. Hosea 4:6 - my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge...

While Absalom can't go back to make different decisions, you and I can make better choices moving forward. As we learn to listen to the voice of God, consult His word in the scripture, and obey, we must know that God and His word are always accessible. God's word is always going to be more important than the suggestion of even the most intelligent persons we know. We must therefore allow Him to have the ultimate say in what we do every day and not just when we feel like it. Sure, becoming this sort of person doesn't always happen overnight, but His grace is sufficient to transform us into the people who treasure His voice and His word above all else. IJN, Amen. Whatever it takes, find God's voice and His word on every situation. Your life hinges on it.

If you're wondering what became of Ahithophel, he came to a very sad end. 2 Samuel 17:23 tells us he eventually hanged himself, compounding his sins. The word of God will guide us so we navigate life as well as the varying voices and opinions in a godly fashion by the grace of God, Amen.