This document summarizes a passage from 2 Samuel about Ahithophel advising Absalom to pursue and kill David, and Hushai advising an alternative plan to delay attacking David. It discusses how David had to suffer for his sins but God did not want him dead. Hushai said David was too experienced a warrior for Ahithophel's plan, and their reputations would cause fear in Absalom's men. The document ends discussing how God appointed the plans and can use people if they are willing and obedient.

1. 1
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July 28, 2013

2. 2
2 Samuel 17 1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto
Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand
men, and I will arise and pursue after David this
night: 2 And I will come upon him while he is
weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid:
and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I
will smite the king only: 3 And I will bring back all
the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is
as if all returned: so all the people shall be in
peace. 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and
all the elders of Israel.

3. 3
This was a good plan and might have worked.
Hit David while he is on the
run, tired and discouraged.
Catch and kill the King, and the rest would
return to Jerusalem to submit to Absalom.
4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the
elders of Israel.

4. 4
5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite
also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. 6 And
when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom
spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken
after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if
not; speak thou.

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David had to suffer for his sins of adultery and
murder, but God did not want him dead.
Absalom followed Ahithophel’s first counsel to
take David’s concubines and shame him.
He didn’t even question it.
But now he wants a second opinion which will
contradict Ahithophel’s plan to destroy David.
God put that desire in Absalom’s mind.

6. 6
7 And Hushai said unto
Absalom, The counsel that
Ahithophel hath given is not
good at this time. 8 For, said
Hushai, thou knowest thy
father and his men, that they
be mighty men, and they be
chafed in their minds, as a
bear robbed of her whelps in
the field: and thy father is a
man of war, and will not
lodge with the people.

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9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some
other place: and it will come to pass, when some of
them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever
heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the
people that follow Absalom. 10 And he also that is
valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall
utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is
a mighty man, and they which be with him are
valiant men.

8. 8
Hushai said that David was too experienced a
warrior for Ahithophel’s plan to work.
He would take his mighty men and hide in a
cave nearby; then when Ahithophel attacked
David and his men would fall on them.
Certainly they would kill at least some and
perhaps many of Ahithophel’s troops.
That would strike terror into the hearts of the
remaining revolutionaries.

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10b “for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a
mighty man, and they which be with him are
valiant men.”
Reputation
Proverbs 22 1 A good name is rather to be chosen
than great riches, … Reputation
David’s reputation as a mighty warrior made
Hushai’s counsel seem wise.

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We earn our own reputation.
2 Timothy 2 1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in
the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things
that thou hast heard of me among many
witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful
men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou
therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ.
Earn a reputation as a good
soldier in the Lord’s army.
Be always on the field of battle.

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Ephesians 6 (NIV) 13-14 Therefore put on the full
armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and
after you have done everything, to stand -- Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around
your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in
place,
Earn a reputation as one who will
stand firm in times of trouble.
Be always faithful; dependable.

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Thanks to the reputations of David and his
men, Hushai could put fear into Absalom’s heart.
And God used that fear to spare David’s life and
restore him to the throne of Israel.

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11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally
gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as
the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that
thou go to battle in thine own person. 12 So shall we
come upon him in some place where he shall be
found, and we will light upon him as the dew
falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men
that are with him there shall not be left so much as
one. Buying time for David

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13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall
all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw
it into the river, until there be not one small stone
found there.
Our army will then be so great that no matter
where David is, we can capture him.

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14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The
counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the
counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had
appointed to defeat the good counsel of
Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring
evil upon Absalom.
What God appoints comes to pass.

16. 16
When God wants a work done, He appoints
men and women to bring it to pass.
If we will obey God and follow the leadership of
His Holy Spirit, He will use us to get it done.
Isaiah 1 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall
eat the good of the land:
God will bless us for submission.

17. 17
If we will not allow God to use us for His Work,
He will appoint another in our place.
Isaiah 1 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be
devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the
LORD hath spoken it.
What reputation are you earning today?

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We earn our reputation as we
live our lives.