Who do we immediately turn to when life throws a curve? When what happens is beyond our ability to reason a response; who can we trust to listen first and then offer advice for the situation?  Who is that person in our life that we depend on when life is confusing and complicated?  What is it about them that we trust?

The book of Proverbs is filled with principles for leaders and followers of God; along with the wisdom to seek godly advisors.  We cannot do life alone. We cannot just “follow our hearts” as the world proclaims because “follow our heart feelings” change suddenly and often like the direction of the wind. Because our hearts are not reliable; we must seek advisors, those who look at our circumstance with new perspectives.

Proverbs 11:14 and 15:22 both emphasize the value of seeking counsel. Proverbs 11:14 states that “where there is no guidance, people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is victory”. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed,”. These verses highlight the importance of seeking advice and the benefits of having multiple counselors to achieve success and avoid failure. 

David and his rebellious son Absalom both trusted in the same advisors.  How will that work out for them?  Maybe more than one advisor is needed to solve the war between them.  Ahithophel and Hushai competed as advisers to Absalom during the revolution. Most leaders in those times relied on advisers to make important policy decisions.  Both David and Absalom assume their advisors “inquired of the Lord” first before giving the advice they seek.  God enables his chosen leaders (such as David) to prevail through the most complex and adverse circumstances. God also supplies his Holy Spirit to guide and comfort when seeking truth.

Today’s passage begins with deception and destruction.  Ziba told lies and Shimei threw stones; both were making it difficult for David. David’s attitude was one of submission, because he accepted Shimei’s abuse as from the hand of God. David had already announced that he would accept anything the Lord sent to him (2 Sam. 15:26), and here he proved it. But God will prevail.

2 Samuel 16

David and Ziba

When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.

² The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

³ The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”

Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

⁴ Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David

⁵ As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. ⁶ He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. ⁷ As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! ⁸ The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

⁹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

¹⁰ But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”

¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

¹³ So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. ¹⁴ The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. ¹⁶ Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”

¹⁸ Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. ¹⁹ Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

²⁰ Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

²¹ Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

²³ Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

A godly advisor truly inquires of God then says and does what God says.  He listens to the whole story and considers all the implications from different points of view before speaking the wisdom God gives. 

Godly leaders need rest before making decisions.  I listened as one of my advisors made statement at a time of being completely overwhelmed as a leader that made a lot of sense.  “Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap!”  A rested heart, mind, body, and soul is more able to see and hear with the eyes and ears of our Lord who lifts the burden we bear…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”—Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30

David was weary and deeply wounded within, so it wasn’t the best time for him to be making character decisions. He accepted Ziba’s story—which was later discredited (19:26, 27)—and made a rash judgment that gave Ziba the property that rightfully belonged to Mephibosheth. “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Proverbs 18:13). God’s leaders must constantly be on guard, rest, listen with the heart of God leading them or we will make unwise decisions on the basis of incomplete information.

Consider these thoughts by Warren Wiersbe;

“What did all this suffering accomplish for David? It made him more like Jesus Christ! He was rejected by his own people and betrayed by his own familiar friend. He gave up everything for the sake of the people and would have surrendered his own life to save his rebellious son who deserved to die. Like Jesus, David crossed the Kidron and went up Mount Olivet. He was falsely accused and shamefully treated, and yet he submitted to the sovereign will of God.”

“Hushai’s words to Absalom must be read very carefully or they will be misunderstood. Hushai gave the usual respectful greeting “God save the king,” but he didn’t say “King Absalom.” In his heart, he was referring to King David, but the new king didn’t understand what Hushai was saying. A proud man, Absalom interpreted all of Hushai’s words to apply to himself, and he accepted Hushai as another adviser. This decision was of the Lord and prepared the way for Absalom’s defeat.”

“Absalom looked to human experience and wisdom—and from a human point of view, Ahithophel was among the very best. Ahithophel didn’t seek the mind of the Lord, however, nor did he want the will of the Lord. His primary goal was to avenge himself against David for the sin David had committed against his granddaughter Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah the Hittite. The depravity and triumphs of sin may shock us, but they cannot defeat the plans or purposes of God.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

WE NEED HELP—AND GOD KNEW WE WOULD!

Beyond all the help of godly mentors and advisors who are humans with imperfections, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, the greatest and most trusted Advisor and Counselor of all!  The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Holy Trinity of God who is God living in us!  Here’s how Jesus explained it to his followers;

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. –Jesus, John 14:15-20 (Read the whole chapter for complete understanding of this gift!)

“What a Friend we have in Jesus,” a hymn of my youth, takes on an even deeper meaning!  We have Jesus who saved us from our sins and immediately have God’s Holy Spirit as a live-inside-us Counselor who will guide us to all that is truth in all circumstances, available at all times!  Could this be the lighter yoke Jesus is referring to? Mm.

When we place our faith in Christ, Christ places his Spirit before, behind, and within us!  Everything Jesus did for his followers, his Spirit does for us. Jesus taught; the Spirit teaches. Jesus healed; the Spirit heals. Jesus comforted; his Spirit comforts. As Jesus sends us into new seasons, he sends his Counselor to go with us. “What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer” … 

Lord,

By your Holy Spirit power living in us, cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us.  YOU are the ultimate advisor to all that is truth.

In Jesus Name, Amen