2 Samuel 15:30-37
30 And David was going up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, and his head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his own head, and they were going up, weeping as they went.
31 Now someone informed David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Lord, please make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”
32 It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the Archite met him with his coat torn, and dust on his head.
33 And David said to him, “If you go over with me, then you will become a burden to me.
34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; even as I was your father’s servant in time past, so now I will also be your servant,’ then you can foil the advice of Ahithophel for me.
35 Are Zadok and Abiathar the priests not with you there? So it shall be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything that you hear.”
37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
David and Hushai
David’s prayer
Have you experienced that God is the One who answers our prayers? Sometimes His answers come quickly, and at other times, they come after a period of waiting. In today’s passage, David’s prayer is answered immediately. This aligns with the prophecy of Isaiah: “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will listen” (Isa. 65:24). (1) David wept as he climbed the slope of the Mount of Olives, covering his head and walking barefoot. These actions expressed deep sorrow and repentance. (2) At that time, David received the report that Ahithophel had become Absalom’s counselor. Ahithophel had served as David’s advisor (v 12), and his wisdom and counsel were regarded as God-given. Both David and Absalom held his counsel in high regard. (3) When David heard this, he prayed, asking the Lord to turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness. And this prayer was immediately answered. Are you, like David, offering your prayers in trust to the Lord? Right now, let us bring our requests before Him just as they are.
Hushai, David’s friend
(1) When David reached the place of worship at the top of the Mount of Olives, his friend Hushai appeared. “Friend of the king” was an official title, and it meant that Hushai served as the king’s advisor. Despite his old age, Hushai wanted to follow David. (2) However, David realized that the elderly Hushai would be a burden in a life of wandering. Therefore, he asked Hushai to return to Jerusalem and work as a spy, gathering information on Absalom’s side. (3) Although he was old, Hushai’s loyal counsel to David led to Ahithophel’s advice being turned into foolishness. (4) Hushai relayed the information he gathered in Absalom’s palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. They then passed it on to Ahimaaz and Jonathan, who delivered it to David. Let us learn a lesson from Hushai’s loyalty. The One we are called to follow is the Lord Jesus Himself who is full of grace and truth. Those who place their trust in Jesus Christ will never be disappointed.
Today's prayer
Almighty God, thank You for listening to my prayers. Please help me to walk faithfully with the Lord Jesus today. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.