The Chess Game

One Year Bible May 31, 2022

2 Samuel 17:1-29

“THE CHESS GAME”

Did you know research shows that playing “The Game of Chess” actually improves your IQ?

It can certainly take a long time to complete one game. It may look like two people are just sitting there staring at the board, which appears to be quite boring. There is a lot of strategy and tactics involved, which is much like our story today in 2 Samuel 17.

Who are the players in this game? All of the chessmen are either white or black. There are six kinds of pieces: king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, or pawn.

Who will win the game of chess? The player that gets closest to the king (within striking range) will be the winner (by taking out the king.)

This, my friends, is the short summary of a very long game that has been going on through I & II Samuel. All of their schemes and tactics are to “Take down the king”.

Like the game of Chess, there are players on “The Black Team” and “The White Team”. What can be confusing, in real life, is when a player switches teams. You find yourself asking, “Who’s team is he on?”

This player’s name is Ahithophel and he becomes “A Black Pawn”.

Who is this man, Ahithophel? (Another guy with a long name that begins with the letter “A”?)

He held the position of the king’s counselor for King David. (Ahhhh, a Bishop). His advice had inquired of the oracle of God according to 2 Samuel 16:23. He was no ordinary man. He was one of “David’s Mighty Men” who was trusted by David and then his son, Absolom. He also had children who served David with great distinction as his elite warriors.

Then, as Absolom launched his revolt to “takedown” David and “take over” the kingdom, (where his son would become king) Ahitophal switched to “The Black Team”.

What would cause a loyal, mighty man to do this after all this time? Let’s look at the introduction to Ahithophel and his counsel to Absalom for today’s reading.

“Absolom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed AS WISE AS THOUGH IT HAD COME DIRECTLY FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD”. (2 Samuel 16:23)

What was Ahithophel’s first advice to Solomon during his revolt to take over the throne?

Ahithophel advised Absolom, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines then all of Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation and they will throw their support to you.” (2 Samuel 16: 21-23)

But wait because it gets worse, “So, they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absolom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.” (16: 22)

Are we paying attention here? Did you catch the location? Does anything about this sound remotely familiar… Remember the “Rooftop Cinema”? Hold that thought…

Next, there is a plot to “take down the king” and I don’t just mean “take over the kingdom”. They want to kill King David (Absolom’s own father). Ahithophel offers “Plan A” in this scheme. He presents his plan to the king, but low and behold, Absolom goes with “Plan B” offered by Hushai, a confidant of David.

How can this be? Remember, that Absolom thinks his words are as “Good as Gold" or "As Good as God’s”.

Do we remember David’s prayer for deliverance? “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!” (2 Samuel 15: 31)

“Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s For the Lord has determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan so that he could bring disaster on Absalom’!” (2 Samuel 17: 14)

Got it? Plan A defeated by Plan B. Plan A was better, but Plan B was chosen! Is anyone here confused? Exactly, that was the point… to confuse the enemy (Perhaps us also).

David’s Prayer. God’s Plan. God intervenes in HIS OWN WAY.

It is almost Checkmate time… “When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and HANGED HIMSELF.” (2 Samuel 17: 23)

Ahitophel started out as a trusted “Bishop” providing strategy but now he ends his life as a “Black Pawn”.

Does anyone know what was behind his bitter plot? We will look at this tomorrow.

But for now, take it from Ahithophel…Life is far more than a Game of Chess!