The Word for today:
2 Samuel 16:15 -- 17:29
mark this: 17:6-11
Ahithophel, one of David's closest friends and advisers, had deserted him to join forces with Absalom.
So David prayed that Ahithophel would give foolish counsel (1). Ahithophel’s counsel, however, was brilliant. He advised that Absalom's forces should strike quickly. Had Absalom followed this advice, he almost certainly would have defeated David's fleeing forces.
But God took control of the situation through the counsel of Hushai (a double agent, secretly loyal to David, who had infiltrated Absalom's inner circle of advisers.) Hushai's advice was brilliant as well--in David's favor. It bought David time to recover, replenish, and reorganize.
Hushai also advised Absalom to personally lead the battle against David, thereby appealing to Absalom's arrogance. It was this appeal to arrogance which made Absalom favor the advice of Hushai over the advice of Ahithophel. Thus, it was Absalom's pride which brought about his fall.
Begin to notice how God answers prayers. He answers them in his own way--not always the way we presume he should.
Jesus taught us to pray: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done (1). Jesus prayed to the Father, saying, Not my will, but yours, be done (2).
2 Samuel 16:15 -- 17:29
mark this: 17:6-11
Ahithophel, one of David's closest friends and advisers, had deserted him to join forces with Absalom.
So David prayed that Ahithophel would give foolish counsel (1). Ahithophel’s counsel, however, was brilliant. He advised that Absalom's forces should strike quickly. Had Absalom followed this advice, he almost certainly would have defeated David's fleeing forces.
But God took control of the situation through the counsel of Hushai (a double agent, secretly loyal to David, who had infiltrated Absalom's inner circle of advisers.) Hushai's advice was brilliant as well--in David's favor. It bought David time to recover, replenish, and reorganize.
Hushai also advised Absalom to personally lead the battle against David, thereby appealing to Absalom's arrogance. It was this appeal to arrogance which made Absalom favor the advice of Hushai over the advice of Ahithophel. Thus, it was Absalom's pride which brought about his fall.
Begin to notice how God answers prayers. He answers them in his own way--not always the way we presume he should.
Jesus taught us to pray: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done (1). Jesus prayed to the Father, saying, Not my will, but yours, be done (2).
Let's pray to Our Father. Then let's watch him work things out in his time, according to his will, in his way. That's the best way.
(1) 2 Samuel 15:31; (2) Matthew 6:10; (3) Luke 22:42
I've heard people say, "I don't know how to pray for that problem." Maybe we don't know how to pray because we think we have to bring God our best solution, before we can ask for his intervention. I don't where that thinking comes from. God tells us to bring our requests, confessions and burdens, I don't think solutions are on His list of appropriate prayers.
ReplyDeleteHis Kingdom, His will are the best solution to any trouble.
Hi, Vickie--
ReplyDeletePrayer is way out there...
His answers are way ahead of us.
When my two favorite Bible prayers--"God, be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13) and "Lord, save me!" (Matt. 14:30)--were uttered, how could the pray-ers know that the answer to their prayers would ultimately hang on a rabbi of no known address hanging on a cross in the gathering darkness. I try to remember that when I presume to advise God on how to answer my prayer!
(p.s.--Be kind to your web-footed friend, for a duck may be some squirrel's mother!)