*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*HOW FAITHFUL ARE YOU?*
*Scripture Treasure.*
2 Sam 15:31 *And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Remaining faithful, especially to those whom God has called, is key to how God will relate well with us.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
As Ahithophel departure from David was a blow to David, so it was a blow to God.
Let us look further at Ahithophel.
First, Ahithophel's unfaithfulness did not start during Absalom's rebellion.
Evil will thrive on the soil of a heart that is already evil. Without doubt, deciding to go with Absalom without any reluctance may be an indication that Ahithophel had been planning in his mind long before Absalom approached him to join the conspiracy.
Absalom's invitation to Ahithophel to join the rebellion was just a way for Ahithophel to fulfill his plan.
He had planned to leave David long before Absalom called him.
We may often be influenced by evil people to join them to do evil because our hearts are already prepared to do evil.
Second, Ahithophel departure underscored the importance of remaining loyal and faithful to people who have been faithful to us.
David was faithful to Ahithophel, and God was with him in dealing with the unfaithful Ahithophel.
One would have thought David was under God's judgment, so God would not support him, but it was not so.
God was with David, even in his distress.
There are people who we may see as distressed or whom nothing may be working for, yet may be one with God, and God is one with them. Fighting them would be fighting God. Being unfaithful to them is being unfaithful to God.
David devised a plan to use Hushai to frustrate the counsel of Ahitophel, 1 Sam 15:34. David prayed God to turn the counsel of Ahithophel to foolishness, 1 Sam 15:31. God heard him.
2 Sam 17:14 tells us that God had appointed that Hushai would frustrate Ahithophel's counsel.
It would seem that God was already working to frustrate Ahithophel before David prayed to Him to do so.
2 Sam 17:14 may be telling us that God had ordained, purposed, willed, planned, predetermined to defeat Ahithophel regardless of David's prayer.
Whichever way we look at God having appointed Hushai would frustrate Ahithophel's counsel may be telling us either, that God had predetermined Hushai would frustrate Ahithophel's counsel or it was an answer to David's prayer.
Either or both ways was God’s way to make all things work together for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
God turned against Ahithophel. He took away the gift He gave him because of his unfaithfulness.
God arms the unfaithful against himself.
God destroys him by making his passionate choice to be a mistake.
God destroyed Ahithophel to destroy himself.
Though God remains faithful, even in our unfaithfulness, ref Rom 5:8, there are times when He treats the unfaithful as their deeds deserve. He can be hostile to those who are wicked, Ps 18:26 says *With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.*
Are you faithful?
*Remorse corner.*
Once Ahithophel left David, God left him, and wise counsel departed from him.
*Call to Word action.*
While Ahithophel was with David, he fulfilled God's plan and purpose.
*The Christian clarion duty.*
You can not continue to operate in the will of God when you are outside His will.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to operate my God-given will in the will of God. Help me to be faithful, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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