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2 Samuel 17:14-23 – David’s Judas

It might not seem a big decision for Absalom to take the advice of one of his counsellors over another. But as soon as he does, the writing is on the wall for his rebel kingdom. He can’t see it. But Ahithophel can. Just as the devil himself knows he is doomed, so Ahithophel knows that the cause he has staked everything on is doomed. That’s why he goes home and takes his own life.

Now Hushai doesn’t know whether his advice has been followed or not. That’s why he urgently has to send a message to David to tell him not to hang around. David needs to get somewhere safe just in case Absalom goes with Ahithophel’s plan. But it soon becomes clear that Ahithophel’s counsel is not being followed. Absalom’s advantage is gone, and it will only be a matter of time before the rebellion is crushed. Ahithophel knows that the game is up. But what he doesn’t know is why. As far as Ahithophel is concerned, it’s just a human miscalculation on Absalom’s part. But as verse 14 spells out for us, the real reason is the sovereignty of God. As a direct result of David’s sin, God had warned him that he would raise evil against him out of his own house. That had happened. God had told him that his wives would be given to a neighbour. That had happened too. But God had also made an earlier promise to establish David’s kingdom forever. And the time has now come to crush this rebellion. Absalom had put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and so he will face the consequences. It’s impossible not to also think forward to the New Testament Ahithophel – Judas Iscariot. Both were in the trusted inner circle of God’s chosen king. Both betrayed him. Both realised that they’d made a massive miscalculation. And both went away and hanged themselves. We’d rather not think about Ahithophel or Judas. But imagine if we didn’t have examples like that in the Bible, and then we saw people who looked for all the world like they were on Jesus’ side turning from him, and using their God-given gifts and abilities to work against him. We’re devastated when we see it, and increasingly we are seeing it. But it would be even worse if we weren’t prepared for it by being shown that it’s nothing new. What a warning here for anyone toying with going down that track. Because it will only end in disaster.

Question

  1. What does Ahithophel realise?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray for those who have walked away from Christ, that they would repent and return.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.