2 Samuel 16:15-23 – A Bleak Picture
Last week we saw the call to be committed to God’s king when his cause seems weak. God’s king in 2nd Samuel is David – who points us forward to Jesus. The cause of God’s king – and his kingdom – really does seem weak. David has been driven from Jerusalem. His son Absalom has claimed the throne. Most people, it seems, have just transferred their loyalty to Absalom. And Ahithophel – David’s trusted counsellor – has gone over to the enemy. We’ve already heard about Ahithophel’s betrayal back in chapter 15, when David is told about it. Then we’re told here at the very end of chapter 16 that ‘in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom’. This is a major, major blow. It wasn’t simply a case of Ahitophel changing employer. David is not simply one of many possible employers. He’s God’s chosen king. For Ahithophel to swap David for Absalom was to rebel against God. Ahithophel is moving to where he thinks the wind is blowing. But as we’ll see by the end of the week, it was a massive miscalculation. As it is for anyone today who walks away from Jesus out of a desire to be on the right side of history. So Ahithophel’s betrayal, his defection, is a massive moment. It’s a huge step for him to take. And it’s potentially disastrous for David. In the verses that we read, Ahithophel gives Absalom two pieces of counsel. Absalom follows one of them. But if he’d followed both, it would have been the end for David.
Question
- What mistake has Ahithophel made?
Prayer Points
- Pray that the nations would acknowledge Christ as king.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.