2 Samuel 17:15

2 Samuel 17:15 says, 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.  Hushai put David’s plan into action, telling Zadok and Abiathar Absalom’s plans so they could get word to David.  Verse sixteen adds, 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.  Hushai said David needed to quickly move from where he was because Absalom planned to overpower him.  At times, we may have to retreat from the battle in order to keep from being overpowered, but we should make sure we are doing so by God's direction.  As with David then, God could have simply destroyed Absalom and kept David safe, just as He could with our enemies today, but He chose not to, and He may choose not to with our enemies today.  Verse seventeen continues, 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.  The young priests, Jonathan and Ahimaaz had stayed outside of Jerusalem so that their coming and going would be less noticeable.  At times,we may have to make ourselves less noticeable in order to do God's will.  We certainly don't need to seek the limelight.  Word was sent by a young woman, and we often see women involved in carrying out God's plan.  Verse eighteen adds, Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.  Jonathan and Ahimaaz were seen as they were carrying word to David and this was reported to Absalom.  The lad who reported them may have honestly done what he thought was his duty, but he was actually working against God's will.  We should never be guilty of working against God's will even if we mistakenly believe that we are doing the right thing.  Jonathan and Ahimaaz went to Bahurim and hid in a well .  Verse nineteen adds, And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. Once more, a woman helped them by covering the mouth of the well by putting a cover over it and spreading corn on the cover.  God works through many different people, some of whom the world will never know their name, to bring about His will.  Verse twenty continues, And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. When Absalom’s men got there, they asked the woman where Jonathan and Ahimaaz were, and she told them that they has gone over the brook of water, and Absalom’s men were unable to find them, so they returned home.  Matthew Henry says the woman lied and that we shouldn't lie, but it would have defeated the purpose of hiding them had she told the truth.  Verse twenty-one says, And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.  After Absalom’s men left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz came out of the well and went to David and shared the message that he needed to move.  Matthew Henry points out that even though Absalom had accepted the advice of Hushai to wait that Hushai didn't want to take the chance that he might decide to follow the advice of Ahithophel instead.  If there is a possibility that staying where we are may put us in danger, we need to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and move if necessary.  Verse twenty-two adds, Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.  David and all those with him passed over the Jordan that night.  If God leads us to move elsewhere, whether for our safety or to share the gospel, we should be ready and willing to do so quickly.  Verse twenty-three states, 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.  When Ahithophel saw that his advice wasn't followed, hexwent home, put his house in order,and hanged himself.  He was evidently so full of self-pride that he couldn't accept that Absalom had not followed his advice.  Self-pride can still lead to our downfall today.  Verse twenty-four adds, Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.  David came to Mahanaim and Absalom and all the men of Israel chased after him.  Absalom was not content to drive David, his father, out of Israel but wanted him dead.  There are still people in the world today who will never be satisfied to simply silence God's people and limit their power, but they will never be satisfied until they have destroyed them.