2 Samuel

2 Samuel 15: David trusts God with his throne

Begin in prayer

Before we read about David fleeing from his son, let us come before the LORD together. Ask Him to help us trust Him with what we cannot keep, and to help us pray as David prayed.

I laid myself down and slept. I awakened; for Yahweh sustains me. I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.

Psalm 3:5-6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that David trusted You with his throne and asked You to turn a wicked plan into foolishness, and show us Jesus, the King You set on Your holy hill. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Absalom gets a chariot, horses and fifty runners, and he stands by the gate to win the people. After forty years he asks to go to Hebron to pay a vow, and he sends spies to proclaim him king. Ahithophel the Gilonite joins the conspiracy, and the people increase with Absalom. David flees Jerusalem with his household, and Ittai the Gittite swears to go with him. David weeps on the Mount of Olives, and he prays that the counsel of Ahithophel will become foolishness. He sends Hushai back to the city to undo Ahithophel’s advice.

As you read 2 Samuel 15, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

David trusts the LORD with his throne, and asks Him to turn a wicked plan into foolishness.

Absalom, David’s son, steals the hearts of Israel by standing at the gate and speaking fine words (verses 1 to 6). After forty years he asks to go to Hebron, and there he is named king (verses 7 to 10). Ahithophel, David’s wise adviser, joins him, and the conspiracy grows (verse 12). David leaves Jerusalem weeping, but he sends the ark back with Zadok (verses 14, 24 and 25). He says, “Let him do to me as seems good to him” (verse 26). He prays that the LORD will turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness (verse 31). Then he sends Hushai to undo Ahithophel’s advice (verses 32 to 34). The chapter does not say how the LORD answers, and the answer comes in chapter 17. Christ is the King whom the LORD set on His holy hill (Psalm 2 verse 6).

How does 2 Samuel 15 show us that David trusts the LORD with his throne, and asks Him to turn a wicked plan into foolishness?

Wicked counsel can look strong for a time.

Absalom’s conspiracy grows, and Ahithophel’s counsel is respected (verse 12). The people increase with Absalom (verse 12). David hears the news and sees that his house is in danger (verses 13 and 14).

David flees and trusts the LORD.

David leaves the city with his household, and he weeps as he goes up the Mount of Olives (verses 14 and 30). He covers his head and goes barefoot (verse 30). He prays that the LORD will turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness (verse 31).

David leaves the outcome with the LORD, and Christ reigns as King.

David sends the ark back and says, “Let him do to me as seems good to him” (verses 25 and 26). He sends Hushai back to the city to undo Ahithophel’s advice (verses 33 to 37). Christ is the King whom the LORD set on His holy hill (Psalm 2 verse 6).

Memorise

Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2 Samuel 15:31

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I take my trouble first, and who is my King?

David was driven from his city by his own son. He wept on the way up the hill, and he prayed to the LORD. David was a king who needed God. Jesus is the Son of David, and His own people also turned Him away (John 1 verse 11).

Jesus went to the cross, and there He paid the whole debt of His people’s sin. Death could not keep Him, because God raised Him to life. Now the LORD has set Him as King on His holy hill (Psalm 2 verse 6).

So come to Him, the King God set on His holy hill. Turn from your sin and trust Him. Everyone who trusts Jesus is made clean.

Parent's note

Tell your children that David trusted the LORD with his throne when his son turned against him. Parents, please explain that Nathan had warned of this trouble from David’s own house (2 Samuel 12 verse 11). Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that David trusted Him with his throne, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:2

Lord God, thank You that David trusted You with his throne, and that Jesus reigns as the King You set on Your holy hill. Lead each heart here to turn from sin and trust Jesus. Help us to pray in trouble this week, and bring our heart question to You. Amen.