Stop Feeding Your Ego 04.17.08

Hello My Friends/Guest,

It is Thursday April 17, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Samuel. Please read Chapters 17-18 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Samuel%2017-18&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Absalom following the advice of Hushai; David's troops battling Absalom and his followers; Absalom's murder by Joab; and David grieving bitterly over his death. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we need to put others before ourselves in order to recieve the blessings from God and that feeding only our egos leads to eventual defeat.

It often takes a crisis to reveal who our true friends are. Ahithophel, David's longtime and most trusted adviser was invited by Absalom to join his conspiracy. David was old and feeble and it appeared that Absalom had successfully won the confidence of most of the key leaders of the nation. When Ahithophel decided to desert David and join with Absalom, he revealed his true character with the words "me" and "I. "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).

Apparently, Absalom then realized that he would be in a secondary position to Ahithophel. So, he sent for David's good friend, Hushai, "Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith." (17:5).

But, God did not forget David's prayer, "And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." (15:31). Little did he know that David had sent Hushai to join Absalom. Undoubtedly, his coming appealed to Absalom's ego, for he now had gained his father's two top advisers. Ahithophel assumed Absalom would accept his plan. But it had offended Absalom as well as Amasa, his military leader. This led them to consider the counsel of Hushai, "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. Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David." (17:14-17).

Like Absalom, the evil are often successful for a time and it may even appear that all their plans have prospered. Great numbers of discontented people had gathered with Absalom to overthrow King David. Absalom and his troops had entered Jerusalem without losing one man. David desired to do all he could to keep the city of God from being damaged. Absalom was allowed to proceed in his determination to assassinate his father David. The Sovereign God permitted Absalom to go only so far, then used an insignificant branch of a tree to entangle his hair. His mule ran on leaving Absalom to dangle helpless until he received the arrows of death he deserved. "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." (18:9). There were many who had once flocked to his side but now, when his hair was entangled in the thick oak and the battle was lost, each one rushed to escape, intent on saving his own life. No one helped Absalom as he attempted to escape the battlefield.

A self-serving person is usually a lonely individual, bullying those around them for selfish motives, but void of the blessing of friends. The uncrucified ego desires everyone and everything to serve it, and like Absalom, is angry when others fail to do so. Most of the discontentment in the home, in the church, and on the job comes because "self" demands recognition and expects to be praised. The Holy Spirit led Paul to write, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:3-5).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through Mahanaim, a city of refuge where David went when he was fleeing from Absalom (II Samuel 17:27). Christ is our refuge. "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6:18-20)

Today's Psalm: 75:6-7
"For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."

Today's Prayer: From Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Have a great and wonderful day.
God Bless,
Christina

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