MONDAY 9TH MARCH 2020 MORNING
2SAMUEL 17:1-14 New International Version (NIV)
1Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” 4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
5 But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”
7 Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8 You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. 9 Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first,[b] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.
11 “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba—as numerous as the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not so much as a pebble is left.”
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
The LORD may allow trials into our life but He will never leave nor forsake us (1Corinthians 10:13).
JUMATATU TAREHE 9 MACHI 2020 ASUBUHI 2SAMWELI 17:1-14
1Zaidi ya hayo Ahithofeli akamwambia Absalomu, Niache nichague watu kumi na mbili elfu, nami nitaondoka na kumfuatia Daudi usiku huu;
2 nami nitamshambulia wakati atakaokuwa amechoka, na mikono yake imekuwa dhaifu, nami nitamtia hofu; na watu wote walio pamoja naye watakimbia; nami nitampiga mfalme peke yake;
3 na hao watu wote nitawarejeza kwako; mtu yule umtafutaye ni kana kwamba wamerudi wote; na hivyo watu wote watakuwa katika amani.
4 Shauri hili likawa jema machoni pa Absalomu, na machoni pa wazee wote wa Israeli.
5 Ndipo Absalomu akasema, Basi, mwiteni Hushai, Mwarki, naye, tukasikie atakayosema yeye pia.
6 Basi Hushai alipofika kwa Absalomu, Absalomu akamwambia, akasema, Ahithofeli amesema hivi; je! Tufanye kama alivyosema? Kama sivyo, sema maneno yako.
7 Hushai akamwambia Absalomu, Shauri hili alilolitoa Ahithofeli si jema wakati huu.
8 Hushai akafuliza kusema, Wamjua baba yako na watu wake, ya kuwa ni watu mashujaa hawa, nao wana uchungu katika mioyo yao, kama dubu aliyenyang'anywa watoto wake nyikani; tena baba yako ni mtu wa vita, hatalala pamoja na watu wake.
9 Angalia, amefichwa sasa katika shimo, au penginepo; kisha itakuwa, watakapoanguka baadhi yao mwanzo, kila mtu atakayesikia, atasema, Kuna machinjo katika watu wanaofuatana na Absalomu.
10 Basi hata yeye aliye shujaa, mwenye moyo kama moyo wa simba, atayeyuka kabisa; maana Israeli wote wanajua ya kuwa baba yako ni shujaa, na ya kuwa watu wale walio pamoja naye ni mashujaa.
11 Kwa hiyo shauri langu ni hili, Waisraeli wote toka Dani mpaka Beer-sheba wakusanyike kwako, kama mchanga wa bahari kwa wingi; na wewe uende vitani mwenyewe.
12 Hivyo tutamfikia mahali po pote atakapoonekana, na kumwangukia kama vile umande uangukavyo juu ya nchi; wala hatutaacha hata mmoja wao, yeye na watu wote walio pamoja naye.
13 Tena, ikiwa amejitia katika mji uwao wote, basi Israeli wote wataleta kamba, na kuuendea mji ule, nasi tutaukokota mpaka mtoni, wala halitaonekana huko hata jiwe dogo moja la mawe yake.
14 Naye Absalomu na watu wote wa Israeli wakasema, Shauri la Hushai, Mwarki, ni jema kuliko shauri la Ahithofeli. Kwa maana Bwana alikuwa amekusudia kulivunja shauri jema la Ahithofeli, ili Bwana alete mabaya juu ya Absalomu.
Bwana anaweza kuruhusu dhiki na majaribu katika maisha yetu, lakini hatatuacha wala kutupungukia. (1Wakorintho 10:13).
