Hushai

Mar 21, 2025

Hushai the Arkite proved to be an invaluable ally to David, acting as a spy in the ‘court’ of Absalom and offering alternative advice to Ahithophel which paved the way for David’s victory against his rebellious son. To be in the position of undercover agent could not have been easy, and Hushai spoke cleverly to Absalom so that he appeared loyal to him whilst remaining loyal to David. He painted a picture of a victorious leader which clearly swayed Absalom’s tactics, when the truth was that David was exhausted and probably could have been defeated if Absalom had followed Ahithophel’s advice.
Hushai spoke of David as a brave man and fighter ‘as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs’ (2 Sam 17:8), choosing to speak of him in ways that reflected his true nature. We need allies like Hushai, people who will speak well of us when perhaps we do not feel strong or brave, people who will remind us of who we are in God and not who we feel we are. Hushai reminds us that to speak positively requires faith and courage, the ability to see beyond present circumstances and to live by faith and not sight. Who is the Hushai in your life, and to whom can you be a Hushai?

God’s Sovereignty

Mar 21, 2025

In our Bible study this week, we looked at how the advice of two men (Ahithophel and Hushai) proved decisive in the battle between Absalom (son of David) and David. Ahithophel was well regarded by both the king and his rebellious son (2 Sam 16:23), and his advice to Absalom – to take David’s ten concubines and sleep with them as a clear demonstration of his intention to rule and to let an army attack David while he did this – was both shrewd and probably would have been the key to success if followed. Hushai, sent back to Jerusalem as a spy, managed to offer alternative advice which gave David more chance of regrouping and which undermined Ahithophel. God was clearly at work in this situation, frustrating Ahithophel’s advice and paving the way to David’s success.

This episode reminds us that God is in control, even when we don’t understand what is going on around us. Prov 21:30 reminds us that ‘there is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord’; Rom 8:28 tells us that God works for good in every situation. Naturally speaking, Absalom could have overcome David and become the next king of Israel, but this was not God’s will. Even though David had sinned, God was merciful to Him and fulfilled His word to him. The tide was about to turn.

Sadly, Ahithophel did not know God as well as David did, for he failed to repent and turn back to Him for mercy. Instead, he kills himself, being firmly assured that Absalom will now fail and that he has no chance of restoration. He reminds us of Judas, who betrayed Jesus and was filled only with remorse and not repentance, whereas Peter, who denied Jesus, was able to repent and be restored. God is the God of second chances. It’s not wise to work against Him; no one can thwart His plans! (Job 42:2)

 

But what about…?

Mar 16, 2025

Tonight in our Bible discussion we looked at how Christian denominations came about and what distinguishes one denomination from another as well as the core Christian beliefs which unite all Christians, regardless of denominations. There was also discussion about translations of the Bible, about how God reveals HImself (through the world and through the word) and about different sects which deviate from orthodox truth. It was a varied discussion, much enjoyed by those who took part!

 

God’s Treasured Possession

Mar 16, 2025

We live in a largely secular society in the West which places little value on human life (as abortion and euthanasia testify). Often, we feel like a mere number, especially as automation and AI can do our jobs more quickly and efficiently than we can, and many treat people as though they are the scourge of all ills rather than as valuable individuals. This can lead us to feeling worthless and without value and adds to our mental health problems, for we all need to feel worth and significance to function well.

The way God sees people is radically different. We are made in His image (Gen 1:27) and are loved unconditionally by Him. (John 3:16) We belong to Him (1 Cor 6:19-20) and are called His treasured possession, His special possession. (Ex 19:3-6, 1 Pet 2:9) This gives us dignity and worth, no matter what others may think. We are chosen by Him; we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Our identity in God is far greater than we often assume.

Treasure is precious, and God says we are ‘a royal diadem in the hand of your God.’ (Is 62:3) At art auctions, we often see mind-boggling prices paid for paintings (Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime and relied on the generosity of others to survive; in 1990, his Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet sold for $83 million. Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi is the most expensive painting in the world, selling for $450.3 million in 2017. It’s not just paintings, either! Robbie Williams recently paid £20,000 for a pair of Eric Morecambe’s glasses, saying ‘the sunshine you asked for, you gave to me.’) The value of something lies in the price someone is willing to pay, and the price God paid for us is the life of His only Son. That gives us an identity as a treasured possession beyond our wildest dreams; we are loved and wanted by God.

Bounce!

Mar 14, 2025

My granddaughters love trampolines and bouncing pillows. Despite the difficulties of standing and walking on these, they love to bounce and jump and appreciate the heights they can reach thanks to the trampoline’s springs.
A trampoline consists of a strong fabric sheet connected by springs to a frame and is used as a springboard and aid to acrobatic and gymnastic exercises. It’s totally unlike the solidity of a normal floor.
My youngest granddaugther, aged just two, is unable to bounce without the aid of the trampoline. She has not yet learned to jump of her own accord. She’s got the knee-bend movement off pat, but her feet don’t yet leave the ground! Her ‘bounce, little bunnies’ (possibly her favourite song) looks cute and there’s plenty of jigging in her actions, but no technical bounces or jumps yet. One day it will all click, and she’ll be off!
Some of us used to bounce but now seem decidedly earth-bound! Life’s circumstances and troubles leave us feeling careworn and without much desire or reason to bounce. We lack enthusiasm and zeal. We need the ‘bounce’ of the Holy Spirit in our lives, giving us an ability not simply to survive life but to thrive, to overcome. God enables us to flourish, even in a dry and weary land where there is no water. He is able to refresh us and add a bounce to our step today, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Neh 8:10)

What’s In A Name?

Mar 14, 2025

Naming a child is a significant decision for most families. Parents may choose a ‘family’ name to honour a loved one or may choose a name with special significance or appeal to them. Names often have meanings which they hope will reflect the character of the child. In Beth Lincoln’s wonderfully quirky novel ‘The Swifts’, members of the Swift family are brought before the Family Dictionary and named, with the assumption that they will grow up to match this definition. Perhaps that’s a good thing if you’re named ‘Felicity’ or ‘Phenomena’, but not quite so reassuring if you’re named ‘Schadenfreude’ or ‘Shenanigan’! The novel explores the question of identity, foreknowledge and free will.
Names matter hugely in the Bible, with God often giving people a new name to reflect His work in their lives (Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah, Jacob becomes Israel, Simon becomes Peter.) The names given to Jesus reflect His identity as our Saviour and God (‘Jesus’ means ‘God Is Salvation’; ‘Immanuel’ means ‘God with us.’)
One part of the Bible people dislike are the genealogies, those lists of unfamiliar and (to us) unpronounceable names which are scattered throughout. Our eyes tend to glaze over when we reach these; skim reading is the only way we cope with these lists!
Yet the Bible affirms the importance of individuals by naming them, and although there are plenty of unnamed individuals who feature prominently, it’s worth considering just how many people are, in fact, named. Numbers 1:17 tells us that when carrying out the first census of Israel, Moses and Aaron took men ‘whose names had been specified’ to do the job.
God knows us by name (Is 45:4). We are given a personal name that identifies us and gives us wortth. Names matter.