God changes the events in the history

2 Sam 17:14, “Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.”

Dear brothers and sisters,

Loving greetings in Jesus name. Today let us not for get the role of God in the human affairs. Whether we believe it or not all things works together for good to those who love the lord as in Rom 8:28 , “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” We should not forget the role of God in creating every thing in this world and sustaining all things. Absalom rose against his father and took the kingdom from him, which had been given to him by the anointing of God. Though king David quietly went out without giving him any resistance and fights and had his own planes and ways to deal with him. Every one know the man Ahithophel was a super intelligent person as in 2 Sam 16:23, “Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel's advice.”

What type of person was this Absalom?

1. Very attractive person as in 2 Sam 14:25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.
2. He was a skilful hot blooded murderer who can plan and execute things He killed his own brother with a good plan as in 2 Sam 13:26 Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us." The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?" also in 2 Sam 13:28 Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Don't be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave." – [2 Sam 13:20 Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman.
3. He can control his tongue as in 2 Sam 13:22 Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad ; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.]
4. He can escape successfully from the hands of the king as in 2 Sam 13:38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years.
5. He knows what to do reach his goal as in 2 Sam 14:32 Absalom said to Joab, "Look, I sent word to you and said, 'Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!" ' Now then, I want to see the king's face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death."
6. He promoted himself with a cunning strategy as in 2 Sam 15:1 to 5 : “In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, "What town are you from?" He would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel . Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you. And Absalom would add, "If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice."
7. He knows how to stole the hearts of the people as in 2 Sam 15 :6; “Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel .
8. Absalom was a cunning person as we see about him in 2 Sam 15:10, “Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron .'"
9. He made use of the innocence of the people to his advantage as in 2 Sam 15:11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter.
10. When he planned to uproot his own father by taking the help of Ahithophel who had a great wisdom in those days as in 2 Sam 15:12, “While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing.”
11. He disgraced his father king David in the presence of all the Israel by laying with the father's concubines as in 2 Sam 16:22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
12. Try to make a name for himself as in 2 Sam 18:18 During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King's Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, "I have no son to carry on the memory of my name." He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.

But in spite of all these abilities and the plans of Absalom, when the anointed man of God king David prayed to God that he may confuse the advise of Ahithophel as in 2 Sam 15:31 Now David had been told, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "O LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness."

God listened to that prayer so he made a plan to provide help to David by confusing the Absalom with another plan. Hushai gave another plan to favour David 2 Sam 17:7 Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. God worked in the hearts of all in the group of Absalom and every one liked the plan as in 2 Sam 17:14, “Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.”

Finally, Ahithophel advise was rejected so he committed suicide as in 2 Sam 17:23, ‘When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb.” The same way God brought disaster over Absalom also.

The father's heart is different as in 2 Sam 18:5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. Also in 2 Sam 18:33 The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you--O Absalom, my son, my son!"

God caught Absalom in the end to finish his wicked life as in 2 Sam 18:9 Now Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going. [Prov 10:16 The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.]

Absalom had a bad end, His heart was pierced and then strucked by ten persons and got killed as in 2 Sam 18:14 & 15, “Joab said, "I'm not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. And ten of Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.” [Prov 11:6 & 7; “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing.]

There is no proper burial for him as in 2 Sam 18:17 They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.

2 Sam 19:14 He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men." 2 Sam 19:15 Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan . Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan . 2 Sam 20:3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem .

ay the lord help each one of us to understand the fact that our God controls all and determines all in this world. Amen.

Yours in the kingdom of God's service,
Rev. Dr. T. Marcus Devasahayam.