Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - Hushai warns David to Escape

4:45 a.m. Prayer /Devotion

5:30 a.m. Cardio/Weights @ gym

2 Samuel 17:1-29; John 19:23-42; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 16:12-13

2 Samuel 17:1-29

New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Samuel 17

 ¹ Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. ² I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, ³ and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek.^[a] Then you will be at peace with all the people.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

 ⁵ But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.” ⁶ When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”  ⁷ “Well,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “this time Ahithophel has made a mistake. ⁸ You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops. ⁹ He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered. ¹⁰ Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.
 ¹¹ “I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops. ¹² When we find David, we’ll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. ¹³ And if David were to escape into some town, you will have all Israel there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down.”
 ¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the LORD had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!

Hushai Warns David to Escape

 ¹⁵ Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead. ¹⁶ “Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River^[b] tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”  ¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David. ¹⁸ But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard. ¹⁹ The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.
 ²⁰ When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, “Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
   The woman replied, “They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” Absalom’s men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.
 ²¹ Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed. ²² So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.
 ²³ When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.
 ²⁴ David soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River. ²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab’s cousin. His father was Jether,^[c] an Ishmaelite.^[d] His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.) ²⁶ Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead.
 ²⁷ When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim. ²⁸ They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, ²⁹ honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 17:3 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads like the return of all is the man whom you seek.
2. 2 Samuel 17:16 Hebrew at the crossing points of the wilderness.
3. 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Ithra, a variant spelling of Jether.
4. 2 Samuel 17:25 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 2:17); Hebrew reads an Israelite.

John 19:23-42

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. ²⁴ So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice^[a] for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.”^[b] So that is what they did.
 ²⁵ Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

 ²⁸ Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”^{[c] 29} A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. ³⁰ When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.  ³¹ It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. ³³ But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. ³⁴ One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ³⁵ (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.^[d]) ³⁶ These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”^{[e] 37} and “They will look on the one they pierced.”^[f]

The Burial of Jesus

 ³⁸ Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. ³⁹ With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds^[g] of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. ⁴¹ The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. ⁴² And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover^[h] and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Footnotes:

1. John 19:24 Greek cast lots.
2. John 19:24 Ps 22:18.
3. John 19:28 See Pss 22:15; 69:21.
4. John 19:35 Some manuscripts read can continue to believe.
5. John 19:36 Exod 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20.
6. John 19:37 Zech 12:10.
7. John 19:39 Greek 100 litras [32.7 kilograms].
8. John 19:42 Greek because of the Jewish day of preparation.

Psalm 119:129-152

New Living Translation (NLT)

   Pe
 ¹²⁹ Your laws are wonderful.
      No wonder I obey them!
 ¹³⁰ The teaching of your word gives light,
      so even the simple can understand.
 ¹³¹ I pant with expectation,
      longing for your commands.
 ¹³² Come and show me your mercy,
      as you do for all who love your name.
 ¹³³ Guide my steps by your word,
      so I will not be overcome by evil.
 ¹³⁴ Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
      then I can obey your commandments.
 ¹³⁵ Look upon me with love;
      teach me your decrees.
 ¹³⁶ Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
      because people disobey your instructions.
   Tsadhe
 ¹³⁷ O LORD, you are righteous,
      and your regulations are fair.
 ¹³⁸ Your laws are perfect
      and completely trustworthy.
 ¹³⁹ I am overwhelmed with indignation,
      for my enemies have disregarded your words.
 ¹⁴⁰ Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
      that is why I love them so much.
 ¹⁴¹ I am insignificant and despised,
      but I don’t forget your commandments.
 ¹⁴² Your justice is eternal,
      and your instructions are perfectly true.
 ¹⁴³ As pressure and stress bear down on me,
      I find joy in your commands.
 ¹⁴⁴ Your laws are always right;
      help me to understand them so I may live.
   Qoph
 ¹⁴⁵ I pray with all my heart; answer me, LORD!
      I will obey your decrees.
 ¹⁴⁶ I cry out to you; rescue me,
      that I may obey your laws.
 ¹⁴⁷ I rise early, before the sun is up;
      I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.
 ¹⁴⁸ I stay awake through the night,
      thinking about your promise.
 ¹⁴⁹ In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry;
      let me be revived by following your regulations.
 ¹⁵⁰ Lawless people are coming to attack me;
      they live far from your instructions.
 ¹⁵¹ But you are near, O LORD,
      and all your commands are true.
 ¹⁵² I have known from my earliest days
      that your laws will last forever.

Proverbs 16:12-13

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹² A king detests wrongdoing,
      for his rule is built on justice.
 ¹³ The king is pleased with words from righteous lips;
      he loves those who speak honestly.