Radical Prayers

READ 2 Samuel 15–19

Years ago I found a monthly guide with thirty-one suggestions of how to pray for leaders. One of them puzzled me until I realized God influences people to do His will. It said, “Pray that godless people make ‘mistakes’ that are to the advantage of the Gospel.” In today’s reading, the story describes something like that.

Absalom, King David’s son, charmed the people who came to the king for judgment, stealing their hearts toward his goal of becoming king himself. He convinced Ahithophel, David’s counselor, to join him. His supporters increased. When David heard of it, he realized his only option was to flee, so he and his household did that, leaving ten of his concubines to take care of the house.

He also left the ark saying , “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” Also, when he was told Ahithophel had also conspired with Absalom, he said, “O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” (2 Samuel 15:1–31) David prayed in faith, trusting God to do right.

The change of loyalty was evident. A man named Hushai wanted to flee with David but David asked him to stay and be a spy for him. Mephibosheth blessed David too, but didn’t go with him. Another man, Shimei, cursed him. Even at that, David refused to retaliate, trusting God to deal with what was happening. (16:11–12)

Then Absalom sought the counsel of Ahithophel who told him to sleep with the ten concubines “in the sight of all Israel” and that would strengthen his position of power. Absalom did that. Ahithophel also said to strike now, while David and his followers were weakened and tired, a good military strategy.

Concerning this, Absalom decided to seek the advice of Hushai, David’s spy, who said: “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good” and he advised Absalom to wait until he had more support for the people who knew the power of David and if Absalom’s forces took casualties, they would melt with fear. Absalom and his supporters decided, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” The text says, “For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.” (17:4–14)

The story takes twists and turns. Messengers were sent to inform David of the plan and they were hidden in a well by a woman when Absalom’s servants tried to stop them. When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he went home, set his house in order and hanged himself. Then David’s army attacked Israel and soundly defeated them. The text says the “forest devoured more people that day than the sword.”

This included Absalom whose mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the tree as his mule kept going. One man saw it and would not kill the king’s son. Joab, Absalom’s general, took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak and ten of his armor-bearers finished him off. (18:6–15) Two ran to tell David and he was overcome with grief to the point that Joab rebuked him saying:

“You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” (19:5–7)

David took that rebuke to heart, Joab was replaced, and David came back to the Jordan. Then Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him over the Jordan. Shimei who had cursed him sought forgiveness and David granted it. Mephibosheth could not flee with David because he was crippled, but he also was blessed for his loyalty. The king returned to his throne, supported by all the people of Judah and at least half of Israel.

Absalom listened to bad advice and was destroyed because of it. God used people to influence David for good. He was grieved at the loss of his son but blessed others, both supporters and enemies, who remained alive. This explains the prayer request. Even though prayer that evil leaders will make mistakes so God can bring good from them seems a radical way to pray, God listens and His will is done!