Reading 2 Sam. 16 and 17 today and discovered an amazing visual of what the Enemy tries to do to us. The story line is that of King David running away from Absalom, his son, who has taken his father's kingdom as his own. As David and his company are running away, a man who was family of King Saul, ( the previous King,whom God dethroned and replaces with David), came out of his house and began to curse David and throw rocks at him. One of David's men wanted to decapitate the guy, but David said 'No' and that God had told this man to curse him. As they began to travel again, this same man followed their company from a close by hill and all the while he was cursing them and throwing rocks and dirt. It actually says that the result of this hounding was that, "The King and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River." Doesn't that sound just like our enemy, we're on the run and then to add to it all, we are taunted and reviled along the way. We are wearied physically and spiritually as well. Kick 'em while they're down, right? Then several verses later we see some supposedly wise counsel from one of Absalom's advisors. The counsel is to immediately take a small army of ready soldiers and chase down David and his men while they are weary and discouraged, (Chap. 17:1,2). So, again, the Enemy is aware of when we are vulnerable, but here's what's great; There was another advisor, who was actually a friend of David, sent to be Absalom's advisor to counter-advise the plans against David. He came up with a plan that sounded better than the first man's plan and because God wanted to protect David and deal with Ahithophel,( the ungodly counsel) Absalom and his followers went with the second plan,( which included waiting to attain a larger army). So then, messengers were sent to David to hurry and cross the Jordan because a large army would soon be after them. They were not going to be attacked at their weakest moment because God's plan prevailed. Of course, David did not know all of these things that the Lord was working out, but He knew that his God was in control and gave himself up to whatever God's will was. I love the Old Testament because of these passages that are such treasures.