Plan of Action: Holiday Sale vs King David’s Battle

What is a strategy? Should we have a plan of action as Christians? Today we look at executing a plan with God. King David had countless wars he fought in and for sure had strategies in place as well as faith in God to be successful. Check out the pod today as well as explore plans of actions and what it means as a Christian?

Key Passages:

2 Samuel 16:23
New International Version

23 Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 15:32-34
New International Version

32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me.34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 17:7-14
New International Version

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,[a] 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.

5P Strategy
1. People
2. Product
3. Pricing
4. Placement
5. Process

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Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Transcript

Key Passage:

2 Samuel 16:23:

"Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice."

2 Samuel 15:32-34:

"When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. David said to him, ‘If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, "Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant," then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice.’”

2 Samuel 17:7-14

Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 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. Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 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.

“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. 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. 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.”

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.

Devotion write up:

Strategy: The Art of Planning or a Plan of Action

Do we need a strategy if we trust in God? Do we need a plan of action? For me, the answer is yes. When you think of strategy in the Bible, King David often comes to mind. David was the King of Israel for nearly 40 years and a formidable warrior who led Israel to countless victories.

Consider this: God chose David to be a man after His own heart and the ruler of Israel. Even with this divine appointment, David still had to earn his place through strategy. Whether it was his own ideas or advice from his confidants, David's strategic approach was crucial to his success.

One of the most striking moments in David’s life was when his son Absalom plotted to overthrow and kill him. David fled when he heard of what he son was plotting. As David & his followers fled in fear, David had one key strategic move that he asked for. One of his most trusted advisors and friends, Hushai, was told by David to go back and serve Absalom and try to get his son to not take the advice of the wise advisor named Ahithophel. Absalom sought counsel from two advisors:

1. Ahithophel  A Hith o fell

Ahithophel was a trusted advisor whose counsel was considered as wise as an oracle of God. He advised taking 12,000 men to immediately pursue David, predicting that David’s men would panic and flee, leaving David vulnerable to be killed. Ahithophel's plan was direct and swift, and Absalom favored it.

2 Samuel 16:23:

"Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice."

2. Hushai  Hoo shy

2 Samuel 15:32-34:

"When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. David said to him, ‘If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, "Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant," then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice.’”

Hushai, a loyal friend and advisor to David, countered Ahithophel’s plan. He suggested that Absalom gather all Israel’s troops and personally lead the charge against David, ensuring David would be vastly outnumbered. This strategy was more drawn out and aggressive. What struck me was the conversation David had with Hushai before he went back to serve Absalom. David instructed his friend to try and divert Absalom from listening to the advice of Ahithophel. What a strategy and request by David!

Absalom ultimately chose Hushai’s plan, which gave David time to regroup. God used Hushai to thwart Absalom’s plans, showcasing the power of divine strategy.

2 Samuel 17:5-14:

Hushai's advice delayed Absalom's attack, allowing David to prepare and ultimately defeat Absalom.

Application in Life

Strategy is essential in all areas of life, not just in war. It dictates how we live, make decisions, accomplish tasks, and define ourselves. Let me share a personal story from my retail days at Macy's. As an assistant store manager for women's clothing, strategy was key to driving sales. We focused on the 5 Ps: People, Product, Process, Pricing, and Placement.

For Memorial Day weekend, we crafted a strategy to boost swimwear sales:

1. People: Ensured proper staffing and management coverage.
2. Product: Highlighted promotional items prominently.
3. Placement: Positioned top sellers in high-traffic areas.
4. Pricing: Completed markdowns early and maintained clear, organized displays.
5. Process: Scheduled support and visual teams to set up the product and planned a fashion show for added attraction.

This strategy led to a top 10 performance in swimwear sales, exceeding our plan by 10% and outperforming the previous year.

Your Strategy with God

So, what is your strategy in life? How have you and God planned to lead your life? Consider these questions:

• When do you pray and devote time to God?
• How do you handle tough situations?
• Does your spouse support your faith?
• How often do you engage with God’s Word?
• How do you stay positive and handle adversity?
• What influences your daily life to glorify the Lord?
• How much effort do you invest in your relationship with God?

Your personal spiritual strategy, developed with God after giving your heart to Jesus, is crucial. Remember, your strategy wouldn't exist without our Heavenly Father. When we stray from it, we often fail or heed wrong advice. Thankfully, God gives us second chances to regroup and rebuild our strategy with Him.

So, what is your and God’s plan of action for your life?