How should believers discern and evaluate advice according to 2 Samuel 17:6? Setting the Scene: Absalom, Ahithophel, and Hushai • Ahithophel, renowned for razor-sharp counsel, tells Absalom how to secure his rebellion’s success (2 Samuel 17:1-4). • God, however, has sent Hushai back to Jerusalem to foil that counsel (2 Samuel 15:32-37). • Verse 6 captures the pivotal moment: “When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, ‘Ahithophel has spoken thus. Shall we do as he says? If not, what do you say?’” Core Truth from 2 Samuel 17:6 Absalom shows that advice—even from a respected expert—must be tested. He pauses, requests a second evaluation, and waits to decide. Scripture spotlights the necessity of discernment before acting. Principles for Weighing Counsel Today 1. Compare every word with God’s Word • Isaiah 8:20—“To the law and to the testimony!” • Acts 17:11—Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” 2. Seek multiple godly voices • Proverbs 11:14—“Victory is won through many counselors.” • Proverbs 15:22—“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” 3. Examine motives and character • Matthew 7:16—“By their fruit you will recognize them.” • Ahithophel’s ambition contrasts with Hushai’s loyalty to God’s chosen king. 4. Pray for wisdom and wait for clarity • James 1:5—God “gives generously to all without finding fault.” • Haste led Absalom into ruin (2 Samuel 18:14-15). 5. Remember God’s sovereign hand • 2 Samuel 17:14 explicitly states that the LORD “had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel.” • Trust that He still guides outcomes for His purposes (Romans 8:28). Scripture Cross-References • 1 Thessalonians 5:21—“Test all things; hold fast to what is good.” • Psalm 1:1—Blessing attends the one who “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” • Proverbs 19:20—“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.” Putting It into Practice • Pause before taking action, mirroring Absalom’s initial step in 17:6. • Lay every recommendation—financial, relational, spiritual—beside the unchanging plumb line of Scripture. • Invite trusted, Scripture-saturated believers to speak honestly. • Pray until your heart rests in God’s peace (Philippians 4:6-7). • Move forward only when counsel, conscience, and the clear teaching of God’s Word align. Measured, prayerful discernment turns ordinary advice into an occasion to witness God’s guiding hand—just as 2 Samuel 17:6 reminds us. |
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