Sunday 17th November
Read 2 Samuel 15:30-37
“But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, ‘Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.’ So David prayed, ‘Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.’
32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, ‘If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, “Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,” then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.’ 37 So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.” (NIVUK)
David knows just how wise Ahithophel’s advice is. As he approaches the top of the Mount of Olives he prays for God to help him. Waiting for him at the summit was God’s answer to his prayer. There is much we can say about the nature of prayer from this passage. David placed his most urgent needs before God, and God chose to answer him. David had to recognise what the answer to his prayer looked like though and had to put in place a plan that would make it effective. David aligned his will with God’s provision. There was nothing passive about David’s response. Too often we think that prayer is like posting a letter and waiting for a response, with all the work being done by divine fiat. But there is communion and response in those who trust in God. Hushai, David’s confidant, was God’s answer to David’s prayer.
