Big Godder

An old theology professor at Princeton Seminary used to slip into the back of the chapel when one of his former students came to preach. He only came to hear you once, it was said. He said that he was listening for one thing; after that, he could write the script for the rest of your ministry. You were either a “big-Godder” or a “little-Godder.” Today's text is designed to give little people great confidence in a very big God.

David’s side hangs on one long shot after another, starting with Hushai, his mole in Jerusalem. Hushai turns out to be a good actor, and gains access to Absalom’s inner circle. He groans as he hears Ahithophel lay out his brilliant plan to end David. But then we come to the next long shot: to the shock of all, Absalom asks for a second opinion. He then looks at Hushai. Now, Hushai knows he has one chance to talk Absalom out of Ahithophel’s perfect plan. He can’t out-strategize Ahithophel, but he can play on Absalom’s fatal flaw: vanity. The guy sells tickets to his annual haircut, and rides in a chariot with 50 attendants! So Hushai takes a deep breath and starts talking (he uses 129 words to Ahithophel’s 42). He pitches a plan with Absalom heroically leading an army into the wilderness, and riding triumphant back into Jerusalem. It’s a stupid plan next to Ahithophel’s. But Hushai gets Absalom dreaming of himself as Napoleon. Next thing you know, Absalom is shouting, “Let’s do it!”

Now for the next long-shot: Hushai has to send warning to David. That is when we meet a string of ordinary little people who are still loyal to David.—they’re like the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied France. These are just the right people at just the right time doing just the right things. Hushai passes the message to a teenage servant girl. She informs Jonathan and Ahimaaz, sons of those priests spying for David. They get spotted, which leads to a chase scene! They get help from an unnamed woman who hides them in her well and covers it with a tarp and grain. When Absalom’s goons barge in, she says, “I don’t see any spies, do you?” Once the coast is clear, the spies race to David with the message. He gets his people over the River Jordan by day-break, ahead of Absalom. Against all odds, David makes a narrow escape.

The whole story turns on that single moment when Absalom takes Hushai’s advice over Ahithophel’s. After that, one thing breaks David’s way after another. Soon, we go from believing that Absalom can’t lose to believing that he can’t win (as Ahithophel does). But why would Absalom listen to Hushai over Ahithophel? The answer is simple: “For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that Yahweh might bring harm upon Absalom (17:14).” Though this stage is crowded with actors, the most important Actor is offstage. God never speaks audibly or performs a miracle in the story. No one even talks to, or about, God. But God is directing the whole show down to the finest detail: Hushai’s smooth words. Absalom’s vain heart. That lady’s well. David’s escape. God has every resource in the universe at his disposal, and he uses them all to take care of David. Ironically, Absalom looks invincible, but he can’t win, while David looks pathetic, but can’t lose. Why? David belongs to a very big God.

David begins in darkness and uncertainty at the Jordan. He ends on the other side of the river, still not knowing what will happen. But he doesn’t need to. All he needs to know is that the big God who saved him from the bear and the lion, from Goliath and from Saul, and even from his own sin, is still taking care of him. That’s all we need, too.

FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT, SEE:

Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church