What role does prayer play in decision-making, as seen in 2 Samuel 17:6? Setting the Scene • 2 Samuel 17:6: “When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, ‘Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Shall we carry it out? If not, speak up.’” • Absalom faces a critical military decision. Instead of pausing to seek God, he gathers more human opinions. • David, meanwhile, had already prayed: “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness” (2 Samuel 15:31). Absalom’s failure to pray is set in contrast to David’s reliance on prayer. Absalom’s Question—What’s Missing? • He consults advisors but never consults God. • Prayer is absent, and the result is confusion and eventual defeat (2 Samuel 17:14; 18:6–8). • The verse therefore serves as a negative example: decision-making that leans only on human counsel is vulnerable and shortsighted (Proverbs 14:12). What Prayer Would Have Added • Alignment with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). • Discernment beyond mere strategy (James 1:5). • Peace that steadies the heart in crisis (Philippians 4:6-7). • Protection from deceptive counsel (Psalm 25:4-5). Lessons for Our Own Choices • Commit the decision to God first, then gather information. • Weigh advice prayerfully instead of prayerlessly. • Expect God to redirect if initial plans conflict with His purposes (Proverbs 16:9). • Recognize that even brilliant counsel, when unprayed, can be “turned to foolishness.” Practical Prayer Pattern 1. Pause—silence the rush of opinions. 2. Present—lay the options before the Lord (Psalm 37:5). 3. Petition—ask plainly for wisdom (James 1:5). 4. Pay Attention—watch for Scripture, inner conviction, or providential circumstances that clarify the path. 5. Proceed—move forward in faith and obedience. Supporting Scriptural Snapshots • David routinely “inquired of the LORD” before major moves (2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19). • Joshua’s failure with the Gibeonites came because “they did not ask counsel of the LORD” (Joshua 9:14). • Nehemiah prayed, then spoke to the king (Nehemiah 2:4-5). • Jesus Himself spent nights in prayer before selecting the apostles (Luke 6:12-13). Key Takeaways • Prayer is not an add-on but the steering wheel of decision-making. • Human counsel is valuable, yet it must be filtered through communion with God. • Skipping prayer may still lead to a decision, but rarely to the right one. • God is eager to guide every willing heart that seeks Him first. |
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