2 Samuel 17: No Scheme of Man: The Unshakable Hope We Have in Christ Alone

“So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.’ For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.”

—2 Samuel 17:14 (NKJV)

Nothing thwarts the plans of God. Say it outloud with me, Nothing thwarts the plans of God!

Absalom had a plan. Ahithophel had all the wisdom—the kind that Scripture says was as if someone inquired of God Himself. Things were not looking good for David, but Thankfully...“The Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel.”

It wasn’t strategy that saved David. It wasn’t earned favor or his track record of faithfulness (or lack there of). It was God. He allowed Absalom to reject sound military counsel in favor of pride.

Why? Because God had already determined to protect David and bring Absalom down.

Time and time again, enemies formed plans. Weapons were drawn. Armies advanced. However—God preserved David. David experienced—over and over—that the Lord always having his back. The Lord always had his best interest in mind and if He had David's we can be certain He has ours too!

This isn't just something we read about in the Bible, it's a living, breathing reminder that our hope should not be based on how things look.  Our hope is in Christ alone. It's as if I hear the choir director in my grandparents' church begin leading us in song...

No matter how carefully crafted the opposition may be. No matter how many betrayals we endure or how times we feel defeated. If God has spoken, if He has purposed something in our lives—no plan of the enemy can override it.

For anyone of us facing adversity…If the outlook looks grim…If even we have all the world's wise counsel stand firm on the reality that,The Lord has the final say. Our hope is not in people, plans, or outcomes—it is in Christ alone.”