King James Bible Study: Rotten Fruit

King James Bible Study: Rotten Fruit
For: Sunday April 17, 2011
Chapters: II Samuel 17-18
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-17

Details of Today's Reading: The wicked counsel of Ahitophel given to Absalom, Hushai convinces Absalom not to follow the advice, Absalom pursues David, Absalom's army is defeated, Joab kills Absalom, and David mourns Absalom's death.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
As Christian's we all long to see the good in others, but the truth is there are some people in this world who are just plain wicked and will remain that way until the day they die. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” - Matthew 7:15-18. Oh, they are very good at convincing people that they are righteous and even a Christian themselves, but all they are doing is using God's name to deceive His elect.

How can you tell if you are being deceived? The Bible says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” - Romans 16:17-20. Wicked people will often contradict God's Word, tell the people what they want to hear instead of the truth, and will often promise things that absolutely can not be achieved. While God will allow them to get away with things for a little while, He will avenge His people.

Absalom was David's oldest living son and if he had done everything right he probably would have rightfully been the next king by heir, but he was not willing to receive the crown by learning and growing as David did, he wanted it now and he was even willing to even kill his father to obtain it. For a while it looked as though Absalom had everything going his way, he even won the favor of David's two trusted advisers, Ahithophel and Hushai. However, all that was about to change when Absalom asked for advice from Ahithophel, who was just as wicked as Absalom.

“Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.” - II Samuel 17:1-4.

Notice that Ahithophel's plan, if followed through, would mean that he would get the recognition of slaying the king? Absalom was pleased and the elders too? These elders were the head of each tribe, chosen to make the decisions for their tribes. Did you ever wonder why wicked people seem to flock together and have control over everything? While we can not do anything about that there is something we can do. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” - Psalm 37:7-9.

After Absalom thought about what Ahithophel suggested, he probably did realize that, Ahithophel would have been given all the recognition for it so he decided to get a second opinion. Absalom went to another one of David's trusted advisers, Hushai, for counsel.

“And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom...And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.” - II Samuel 17:7-9,14.

While Absalom was feeding his ego over the fact that he had gotten his father's two top advisers, little did he know that David sent Hushai to join him. Hushai suggested that all the forces of Israel be gathered and that Absalom, the commander-in-chief himself, be at the head of his great army. Doing it this way, gave him a sense that he would gain the prestige of being the conqueror and the rightful king of all Israel while it gave David and his army time to prepare for the battle. God never intended for David to be killed or dethroned over his sin, He just wanted to chasten him, but now the punishment was over and it was time bring it all to pass. God never lets us suffer too long. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” - Hebrews 12:11.

Like Absalom and Ahithophel, the wicked are often successful for a time and it may even appear that all their plans have been fulfilled and they are prospering. However, there comes a time when God says, “The fun is over, you have deceived my people enough, I served my purpose with you and now justice will be served.” Which is what He had done with Ahithophel and Absalom. Ahithophel, upon finding out that Absalom did not follow through with his plan, killed himself. “And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.” - II Samuel 17:23.

During the battle, Absalom was killed. “And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away...Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.” - II Samuel 18:9,14,15.

We have all been deceived by a friend, family member, and even our own flesh and blood from time to time. They do not care who they have to deceive, destroy, or even kill, they will do everything in their power to get what they want, even if it takes years to get them there. You would think that with so much energy being put into deceiving people that they could have put it to better use and really done something good with their lives? Yet, wickedness does not go unpunished, a person truly reaps what they sow. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, being crucified, watching the people mock Him and gamble for a piece of His clothing He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34.

Satan thought he defeated God, but Jesus came back and one day He will return and Satan and all evil will be gone for good. We, who have trusted in Jesus Christ as our Savior will live to see a life with no more sorrow, pain, or suffering. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” - Revelation 21:3,4. Praise God!

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Mahanaim, the city of refuge where David went, (17:27). Jesus Christ is our refuge. “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” - Psalm 91:2.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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