2 Samuel 17:15-29 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 17:15-29. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Samuel 17:15-22 (NIV)
15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so.
16 Now send a message immediately and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the desert; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.'”
17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A servant girl was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.
18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left quickly and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.
19 His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.
20 When Absalom’s men came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.” The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.
21 After the men had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.”
22 So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.
On verses 15-22: Hushai has a message for King David that will save his life. But notice how many people were involved in getting this life saving message to King David:
1. Hushai tells the priests Zadok and Abiathar (v15)
2. Zadok and Abiathar tell a servant girl (v17)
3. The servant girl tells Ahimaaz and Jonathan (who were the sons of Zadok and Abiathar respectively) (v17)
4. An unnamed man in Bahurim and his wife hide Ahimaaz and Jonathan so that they can escape from Absalom’s soldiers (v18-20). After that Ahimaaz and Jonathan could safely inform King David.
I counted at least eight people who were involved in getting a life saving message to King David. The Holy Spirit used these verses to teach me this important truth: God often uses not just one but several people to get the life saving message about Jesus Christ to you. So don’t give all the credit to the preacher who preaches the message or the evangelist who leads you in praying that salvation prayer. Their role of course is very important, but there are others God has used to get the message of Jesus Christ to you. They could include:
– that friend who invited you to church or to that event;
– the Sunday school teachers who taught you about Jesus and planted that gospel seed when you were little;
– the people who started the church or ministry where you got saved;
– other spiritual leaders in your life who helped lead you to Jesus;
– that relative who prayed for you when you were younger.
So thank God for ALL the people He used to bring you to Jesus. Just as those people went out of their way to bring the life saving message about Jesus to you, go out of your way to say thank you to those people.
2 Samuel 17:23 (NIV)
23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
On verse 23: After Absalom rejected Ahithophel’s advice, Ahithophel commits suicide. Why? One reason could be because Ahithophel’s identity and self-worth were wrapped up in his work performance, so when Ahithophel’s advice was not followed, he deemed himself a failure and lost his reason and purpose for living. Another reason could be that Ahithophel feared the worst now that Absalom had rejected his advice and that Ahithophel believed David would eventually prevail and execute him, so he decides to hang himself instead.
In any event, it is sad that even though Ahithophel was the most famous advisor to the king in Israel, Ahithophel had no one to go to when he himself was in need of advice and help. You can have great status, wealth, influence and an impressive resume, but if you don’t have people to turn to when you are lonely or depressed, then it is a sad life indeed. Thank God for the people He has placed in our lives whom we can turn to in our toughest times.
2 Samuel 17:24-29 (NIV)
24 David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
25 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether, an Israelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,
29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.”
On verses 24-29: Taking Hushai’s advice, David crosses the Jordan River and goes to the city of Mahanaim (v24). There in Mahanaim David is served by three individuals: Shobi, Makir and Barzillai. They bring food and supplies to replenish David and his people (v27-29). Each of the three individuals who helped David could easily have made excuses for not helping. For example:
– Shobi was an Ammonite. His father, Hanun, was king of the Ammonites and was defeated earlier by David (2 Samuel 10). Shobi could easily have held a grudge against David for defeating his father and his people. But for some reason, Shobi had compassion for David and reached out to him.
– Makir was likely the man who took care of the crippled Mephibosheth at his house (2 Samuel 9:4-5). Makir could easily have said, “I’ve spent so much time and resources in the past helping others. Why should I help yet another?” But Makir did not let his past record of helping others keep him from helping David when he was in need.
– Barzillai could have let his age be an excuse for not helping David. After all he was 80 years old (see 2 Samuel 19:32). But Barzillai didn’t let his age and physical limitations keep him from helping David.
What can we learn from this? Don’t let a previous grudge, your past accomplishments or your age and physical limitations keep you from being a blessing to others.
Heavenly Father, thank You for all the different people You have used throughout my lifetime to bring the saving message about Jesus to me. Thank You that, like Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai, those people went out of their way to help me. I remember today that I am not alone like Ahithophel. Rather, I am rich, fortunate and blessed because of the people You used to help me. Thank You for them all. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
opyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.