When God says, “Pray,” or “Ask,” He is not joking.
There are many things that God does in this life only if we pray. If we don’t pray, He won’t do it.
It is simple as that!
Sometimes we take prayer as one of our chores, not as something that opens a door for God to enter into our lives and do what only He can do.
When Absalom, David’s son, rebelled against his dad and wanted to kill and destroy him and his kingdom, his dad, King David, ran away before his son.
One of David’s best advisers, Ahithophel followed Absalom to attack David. David knew right away that his son and Ahithophel could do him harm. So he immediately fled.
Now a time came for Ahithophel to give his best advice to Absalom so it would be the end of King David.
Listen:
“Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. 2 And I will attack him while he is weary and exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike and kill the king when he is alone, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you. The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.” 2 Samuel 17:1-4 NASB
Wow! Think about it!
Then listen what happened:
“5 Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what he has to say.”” verse 5
I mean, you may ask, “If Ahithephel’s advice was good, why did Absalom go to seek more advice?”
Well, just wait and see!
Hushai gave his advice.
“8 Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are fierce, like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ 10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that you personally go into battle. 12 Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the valley until not even a pebble is found there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.”” verse 8-14a
Do you know what verse 14b says?
Listen, “For the Lord had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the Lord to bring disaster on Absalom.” verse 14b
My! My! My! God made Hushai’s advice to look good before Absalom and all the men of Israel so they would reject the advice of Ahithophel.
Why?
Remember? God is sovereign! He does what He wants to do, right?
Yes, and no.
Yes, God is sovereign and He does what pleases Him; but God does not always just do things in our lives unless we pray.
“You do not have because you do not ask. ” James 4:2c NASB
Very straightforward, isn’t it?
So, as soon as King David heard that Ahithophel had become a turncoat, he prayed this way:
“30 And David was going up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, and his head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his own head, and they were going up, weeping as they went. 31 Now someone informed David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Lord, please make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”” 2 Samuel 15:30-31 NASB
Wow!
Did you see that?
David prayed saying, “Lord, please make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”
And that is exactly what God did. God made Ahithophel’s good, arguably the best advice, to come across Absalom and the elders of Israel as totally foolish. So, they rejected it!
Here is the sovereignty of God on display!
May His name be praised forever! God heard David’s prayer and He answered it beautifully.
So, what is the take home message for today:-
My friend, pray! Christ says, “7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NASB
God is not joking when He says that.
Let’s take Him at His word.
Let’s just make sure that we ask according to His will because His word says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NASB
God “hears” means you receive what you ask. May His name be praised forever!
Let me finish today’s post with my #1 favorite verse on the topic of prayer:
Jesus said, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” John 16:24 NASB.
So that your joy may be made full! I mean, think about it! There is full joy or not-so-full joy! Here is the prescription to get full joy! Praise God!
So, my friend, ask in Jesus name! And God will give you what you ask because God is who He says He is. ///