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2 Samuel 15:31 – Praying through the Bible #103 – A Prayer for Failure
“I hope he fails.” Rush Limbaugh famously, or infamously, said that about then President-elect Obama’s policies. Excoriated by the political left, and shunned by some on the right, the brash statement became an oft repeated political mantra sparking another debate. How could one patriotically hope an elected official would fail? How could anyone morally hope someone might fail? This is not a political piece, so whether we are right wing or left, whether we are political or spiritual, let’s focus on one question: Can it ever be right to hope someone fails?
David is running again. Instead of fleeing Saul, he is fleeing his son: “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom” (2 Samuel 15.13). Much of the following foreshadows Christ. A few friends remain with God’s anointed. Zadok, priests and Levites, follow with the Ark of Covenant, but David sends them back: “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, He will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place. However, if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you.’ Then here I am – he can do with me whatever pleases Him” (15.25-26). David is saying, “Thy will be done.” Now again see Christ as “David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot” (15.30). Then David hears the news: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom” (15.31). David too has a traitor. Who is this co-conspirator?
Many believe he is Bathsheba’s grandfather. This could validate, in his mind, his motives, if Bathsheba is as innocent as the ewe in Nathan’s parable (2 Sa 11.3; 23.34; 1 Ch 3.5; 11.36; 1Ch 3.5). Another reason to make this connection is Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom is payback, reminiscent of David’s sin against Uriah: “sleep with your father’s concubines” (16.21). This fulfills God’s lex taliones punishment of David for taking Bathsheba (12.10-12). Who else is this traitor? Part of the anointed one’s inner circle, and well respected, “Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God – such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice (16.23).
When David hears of his former compatriot’s treason, he quickly prays, “please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness” (15.31). The name Ahithophel, some suggest, means “brother of foolishness.” The rest of the story shows God answering David’s prayer. When this former counselor’s advice is rejected by Absalom, he goes out and commits suicide by hanging (17.23). See again, Judas (Mt.27.5). Ahithophel had rebelled against God’s anointed, something David refused to do against Saul. Obviously, David hoped he would fail, and apparently so did God. Thankfully Jesus did not fail in the garden when He prayed, “Thy will be done.”
Prayer Challenge: Praying for failure might seem immoral, but if they are against God that is the only right prayer. That includes praying we fail if our mind is askew of God’s.
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