2 Samuel 17:14

2 Samuel 17:14 ^ESV

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 ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom.

 

There are plenty of verses in the Bible that tell us our responsibility to obey the Lord (Deut 11:26-28), keep His commandments (Dan 9:4), trust in the Lord (Prov 3:5-6), etc.  Clearly, our fellowship with God is in part our responsibility (Rom 10:13).  The purpose of these verses is that we remember who we are and who God is; there is no walk with God if we are not walking.

 

But the verses filling the whole Bible are a testament to the fact that God is absolutely sovereign.  God must choose us before we are able to choose Him.  And God chooses also those whom He will destroy (2 Sam 17:14).  This terrible reality must give us pause; this terrible reality must not, however, cause us to doubt or to rely on our own wisdom.  What would be heinous for us to decide (destroy a man in the eyes of his lord) is not for God.  In some mysterious way that we can only get a glimpse of an imagining of a piece God is glorified when His justice is given.

 

Note however it is justice: no one in the end will get injustice; God be praised some of us will get non-justice, we will receive mercy, we will receive grace PRAISE JESUS!

 

I read verses like this and tremble.  I deserve no less that Ahithophel (note also, he didn’t have to hang himself, God ordained to defeat his counsel: Ahithophel’s pride caused him to do the most foolish/self-centered thing possible). 

 

So read God’s Word.  Obey it.  Pray for grace to obey it.  Seek His good counsel and walk in His steps.  And, tremble!  Fear the Lord lest you walk contrary to that Word.  Cling to Him as to a rope suspending you over nothing.  Then you will be sure that He is holding on to you.

 

Praise You Father that You do hold on to us.

Praise You Son that You loved us enough to save us.

Praise You Spirit that You captured our hearts.

 

Being held together with you,

Pastor Greg