August 30, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

II Samuel 17:8  For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Hushai was one of King David’s trusted advisors. David asked him to go to his son, Absalom, who was trying to rend the kingdom from his own father, to counter the advice that Absalom was receiving from Ahithophel. This Ahithophel was once a trusted advisor to David, but he had switched alliances to Absalom. There was an awful, hurtful, and diabolical conspiracy in the land. However, this tragic scheme was short lived and ended with Ahithophel committing suicide and Absalom’s life being taken by Joab (one of David’s mighty men) and his ten armor bearers.

Within this story of treachery, adventure, and espionage there is a small gem that should be examined a little more closely. This small glimmering statement can easily be overlooked as the plot of this chapter of King David’s life unfolds. Yet, it is certainly an issue with which most, if not all, unfortunately deal. We may not be kings, our sons may not be trying to overthrow us, our trusted counselors may not forsake us, and we may not have a spy network developed to pull off the clandestine events of this story, but from time to time we will deal with this small development.

This ailment may seem to be a small gem or nugget, but as anyone who has ever had a small rock in their shoe will remember, it seems like a giant boulder. This small stone, this small rock, this seemingly small pebble, this little grain of hardened sand can be summed up in those four little words chafed in their minds. 

Being chafed in one’s mind means to be angry, bitter, and or discontented. This usually starts off small, but like a stone in the shoe it mutates to something big, uncomfortable, unbearable, and results in some type of action to assuage the pain it causes. This action is far too often an argument, strife, and even hatred toward another. This small gem of emotional turmoil will cause any that are affected thereby to act as a bear robbed of her whelps, uncontrollable rage, and hurtful actions.

If you find your mind chafed, deal with it as a small stone in the shoe. Get rid of it. Do not let it fester. Deal with it by turning it over to the Lord; He can make it right. But do all you can to stifle anger at another, just remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment… (Matthew 5:22) 

If David was chafed in his mind, it wasn’t aimed at Absalom, for when this dad heard of his son’s death he cried: …O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! (II Samuel 18:33). We who name the name of Christ are to always strive for peace, love, and grace, even to the preferring of others above ourselves. This matter of being chafed in mind is always brought about because we fail to love and put others above ourselves. Don’t believe me? The next time you are angry with another, ask yourself why. It is probably because you think the other party should be put down and you should be seen as right. This could be a theme for devotions for a month of Sundays, but those will have to wait for another day.

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William Howe