Humiliated
|
We leave David briefly on the far side of the Jordan River while we concentrate on Ahithophel. A shrewd counselor, Ahithophel knew Absalom had made a fatal error and “the cause of the rebels was lost. And he knew . . . there was no hope for the counselor who had instigated his greatest crimes. Ahithophel had encouraged Absalom in rebellion; he had counseled him to the most abominable wickedness, to the dishonor of his father; he had advised the slaying of David and had planned its accomplishment; he had cut off the last possibility of his own reconciliation with the king; and now another was preferred before him, even by Absalom. Jealous, angry, and desperate, Ahithophel ‘gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died.’ Such was the result of the wisdom of one, who, with all his high endowments, did not make God his counselor. Satan allures men with flattering promises, but in the end it will be found by every soul, that the ‘wages of sin is death.’ Romans 6:23.” But there is more to the story. Ahithophel had asked to command the men who would pursue David (2 Samuel 17:1). His request had been emphatically denied.
This had humiliated him more than having his counsel ignored.
Had he been able to bring about the death of David, he might have remained close to the seat of power. Now David had a chance to gather forces and strike back.
Ahithophel had all but handed the crown to Absalom, and this was how he was shamefully repaid! “Ahithophel felt certain that his doom was only a question of time. When David regained his throne Ahithophel would certainly be held responsible as a ringleader of the revolt and would be put to an ignominious death. But it was more than fear of swift reprisal that caused Ahithophel to take his life. He could not bear to see his counsel ignored and consequently took the cowardly way out.” “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
