Perhaps you have sometimes struggled to pray and wondered: “Does my prayer work?” Well, something from a story found in II Samuel and a figure named Hushai has caused me to push through those thoughts and engage in a daily habit of prayer. It is very simple.

God is seen in Scripture working behind the scenes to thwart the plans of those against His people.

In the story involving Hushai (II Samuel 17), Absalom has been seeking a way to conquer his father and steal the throne. If you go back to chapter 15, Absalom has done a fair job in recruiting many once loyal to David, and among those that he manages to recruit is none other than David’s great advisor, Ahithophel.

Ahithophel’s coup with Absalom is a tremendous blow to David and causes legitimate fear. Why? Ahithophel is among an exclusive group of advisors who have a track record of a council that is second to none.

2 Samuel 16:23 (KJV 1900) — 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God….

Did you catch that? When Ahithophel gave council, it was as though he had received direct communication from God! His advice was that good! To David’s great chagrin, Ahithophel had gone over to Absalem’s side and was giving his rebellious son council!

Then David prayed…

2 Samuel 15:31 (KJV 1900) — 31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

David knew how effective Ahithophel’s council would be, and if anyone could help Absalem find a way to defeat David, it was Ahithophel! David doesn’t pray against the inevitable wisdom of his old counselor, but he prays that God would turn the counsel that Ahithophel gave to Absalom into foolishness.

Let’s jump back into the story by moving forward a little bit to when Ahithophel gives advise to Absolem on how to defeat David.

2 Samuel 17:1–3 (KJV 1900) — 1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: 3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

Ahithophel knows how to destroy David, and this advice would prove deadly to David should Absalem pursue it. In fact, scripture tells us that the advice pleased Absalom (vs. 4), but just before he commits, he calls in another advisor named Hushai.

2 Samuel 17:5–7 (KJV 1900) — 5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. 6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou. 7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

Hushai then proceeds to give another tactic that he feels will be successful in defeating David, and upon hearing Hushai out, Absalom makes his decision.

2 Samuel 17:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.

Did you notice that last sentence in verse 14?

Prayer Works

Did you make the connection? God had appointed to defeat the good council of Ahithophel! When do you suppose this appointment occurred? I will submit that it happened immediately after David prayed this following prayer: O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

I know that it can seem like prayer is futile at times, but this is direct proof that God can and does intervene in circumstances that may be arrayed against us! God does influence things on our behalf WHEN WE PRAY!

So, if you are reading this right now, you could slip down to your knees and find the time to engage in prayer. God works on behalf of His children, as we see with Hushai’s introduction to the story of David and Absalom.

Pray, and watch God work!