A late comeback

We have been focusing on the fall of King David in 2 Samuel, and we will continue to follow this, what is notable about today's passage is that David may actually be staging a comeback.

It all starts with some advice:
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, 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.” (2 Samuel 17:7-13 NIV)
Hushai's advice is good, the other advice was to go after David now with 12 000 men yet Hushai suggests waiting, which would allow David to regroup, his advice sounds good on the surface, get the people on side before staging a coup, but on the ground and compared to the other advice it doesn't match up.

And so the reason for this is revealed:
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. (2 Samuel 17:14)
God wants to end the reign of Absalom, hence why the bad advice is followed. Notice it's not specifically to restore David but rather it is to overthrow Absalom, because that's not what God's plan is and Absalom running against God's plan is only going to result in failure.

We can't run against God's plan as Absalom will find out, David has remained faithful to God letting his plan be carried out even if it hurt him. We need to be more like David and less like Absalom.