2 Samuel 17

2 Samuel 17

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Arise, and pass quickly over the water. The water of Jordan may serve as an illustration for our position. Our David has passed over the waters of death, and in doing so has taken us with Him. There is a sense in which in the morning light of Easter Day all who believed passed over with Him, so that “by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over to Jordan.” We all hold the doctrine of Substitution: Do we sufficiently realize that of Identification? Not only did Jesus die for us, but we died with and in Him. In Him, as the true Noah’s Ark, the whole Church passed over the Jordan of death from the old world to the new. There are some who do not understand that in the purpose of God we are already standing on resurrection ground. Across the water we can hear the murmur of the world, and detect its corruption; but we are the inheritors of the world in which there is no death nor corruption nor the dominion of sin. When a man realizes this he no longer braces himself up to meet death, because he knows that in the person of Christ he has left it behind forever. What is true, however, in God’s purpose should be the aim and goal of our daily striving. To us there comes the unceasing call, “Arise, and go over Jordan.” There is always a thither and a hither side for every experience and act. We may always do as the world does; this is to stay on the death side. We may always do as Christ does; this is to pass over to the risen and living side. Reckon that you have died, and mortify the deeds of your body. “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.” 2 Samuel 17:22 Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan. crossed the Jordan: 2Sa 17:24 Pr 27:12 Mt 10:16 not even one remained: Nu 31:49 Joh 18:9 2 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID AND ALL HIS PEOPLE'S SAFE PASSAGE Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan - The spies warning was heeded and not one person failed to make it across the Jordan River. 2 Samuel 17:23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father. saw: Pr 16:18 19:3 his city: 2Sa 15:12 set his house in order: Heb. gave charge concerning his house, 2Ki 20:1 and strangled himself: 2Sa 15:31 1Sa 31:4,5 1Ki 16:18 Job 31:3 Ps 5:10 55:23 Mt 27:5 2 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AHITHOPHEL SEES HANDWRITING ON WALL AND COMMITS SUICIDE Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father - Ahithophel knew his plan would succeed in defeating David, but now saw the "handwriting on the wall" and realized that David might not be defeated by Absalom which would make his life as the say "toast!". He would rather hang then face an angry king! Another reason for his suicide was that Ahithophel was publicly disgraced by Absalom's rejection of his plan. He was wise to set his house in order, which begs the question is your (my) life in order if unexpected tragedy should strike? Ahithophel lived up to the meaning of his name "brother of folly or of ruin or of foolishness." Suicide is foolish and selfish and leads to ruin, which is truly ironic as his counsel was considered by both David and Absalom "as if one inquired of the Word of God!" (2Sa 16:23+)