What does 2 Samuel 17:3 teach about the consequences of ungodly counsel? Setting the Scene • Absalom has stolen the hearts of Israel and is pursuing his father, David. • Ahithophel, once David’s trusted adviser, now counsels Absalom. • The spiritual climate is dark: rebellion against God’s anointed king always opposes God Himself (1 Samuel 26:9; Psalm 2:1-2). Verse in Focus 2 Samuel 17:3: “and bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.” Why Ahithophel’s Counsel Was Ungodly • Promoted rebellion: targeting David contradicted God’s clear choice of king (1 Samuel 16:1, 13). • Ignored divine promises: God had covenanted that David’s line would remain (2 Samuel 7:12-16). • Sought expediency over righteousness: “one man” eliminated quickly sounds efficient, but it is murder. • Lacked prayer or reference to God: contrast with David, who repeatedly “inquired of the LORD” (2 Samuel 5:19). Short-Term Appeal, Long-Term Disaster • Ahithophel’s plan “pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel” (v. 4), proving that popularity can mask ungodliness. • God overturns it through Hushai’s counter-advice (vv. 14-15), showing divine sovereignty over human plots (Proverbs 19:21). • Ahithophel, seeing his counsel rejected, hangs himself (v. 23). The very adviser promoting death meets death himself—an immediate, sobering consequence. • Absalom eventually dies in battle (2 Samuel 18:14-15), and countless soldiers perish—peace never comes through ungodly schemes. Life Lessons on the Consequences of Ungodly Counsel • Ungodly advice may sound logical, even compassionate (“all the people will be at peace”), but it disguises sin. • Accepting such counsel invites God’s opposition and personal ruin (Proverbs 14:12). • Leaders bear multiplied consequences; their choices sway nations, families, churches. • God ensures His purposes stand, yet individuals suffer needless pain when they heed wicked counsel (Proverbs 13:20). Guarding Our Hearts Against Harmful Advice • Measure every suggestion against Scripture’s clear commands (Isaiah 8:20). • Seek advisers who fear the Lord (Proverbs 15:22). • Value prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance over mere human strategy (John 16:13). • Remember Psalm 1:1—blessing belongs to the one who “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” 2 Samuel 17:3 gently wraps rebellion in the promise of “peace,” yet the unfolding narrative proves that ungodly counsel, no matter how attractive, always breeds chaos and death. |
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