Lessons from Two Samuel 17: evil plans fail

The Book of Two Samuel is full of dynamic stories and fascinating political intrigues. One of these captivating stories is the tale of Absalom and his coup against his own father, King David. In chapter 17, we see one of the key moments in this story, when Absalom's advisor, Ahithophel, suggests a cunning plan to defeat David. But in the end, his plan was ignored and had even been defeated. In this article, we'll explore the lessons we can learn from Two Samuel 17 and how they continue to resonate in our daily lives today.

1. Bad Plans Fail

In Two Samuel 17, we see how Ahithophel devised a plan to defeat David, but make sure it won't be good for the people. Even if his intentions were evil, history teaches us that evil plans often fail. Today, many people believe that success must be achieved at all costs, even using illegal or immoral means. However, the Lord does not bless these practices, and sooner or later these evil plans end in spectacular failure.

2. Truth Triumphs

Ahithophel devised a plan to deceive David about how he should defend himself against Absalom's army. However, Hushai, a loyal friend of David, suggested a different plan that saved the day. Hushai's victory shows how truth always triumphs. No matter how convincing the lies may seem, the truth always wins in the end. In our hyper-connected world, it's easy to spread lies and mislead the masses. Yet we must remember that the truth always finds its way in and is the only thing that can keep us strong.

3. The Consequences of Arrogance :

In Two Samuel 17, Absalom is portrayed as an arrogant young man who overestimated his abilities. He thought his planning and organization were sufficient, even though he had little experience. However, Absalom's arrogance cost him dearly, for his defeat was inevitable. If we analyze this today, we can see how arrogance can harm us, even when everything seems to be to our advantage. It can prevent us from recognizing our own weaknesses and, as a result, prevent us from growing and developing as human beings.

4. Trust your instincts

We see in Two Samuel 17 how Hushai thwarted Ahithophel's plan by trusting his instincts. He understood the bigger picture and was able to suggest a more pragmatic solution to David. This teaches that sometimes we have to trust our instincts, and trust our judgments. In today's world full of noise and distractions, it's easy to lose sight of our own instincts. However, we need to remember that sometimes our intuition can help us make bolder, braver decisions.

Two Samuel 17 is an exciting story, offering practical lessons for our daily lives. We need to remember that wicked plans often fail, and that truth always triumphs. Arrogance can cost us dearly, while reliable instincts can be invaluable tools for making bold and courageous decisions. Overall, Two Samuel 17 teaches us how to face adversity and ultimately triumph, no matter what difficult circumstances we face in our daily lives.

God bless you all!