Category: Failure

The Sad Story of Ahithophel - Wisdom Destroyed by Bitterness

2/20/2018

This past week we read through the part of 2 Samuel that involved the rebellion of David’s son, Absalom and those who supported him. Among those who supported this rebellious son was a man named Ahithophel, who held the position of the king’s counselor. In this role he was evidently very skilled. His advice was as one who had inquired of the oracle of God according to 2 Samuel 16:23. Both David and Absalom saw him in this light. He is also had a son who was listed among David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:34). This was no ordinary man - but was a man mighty in valor and in wisdom in the years he served the king. He was a man who supported David and who even had children who served with great distinction among David’s most elite warriors.

But what happened to Ahithophel? Why would he choose Absalom over David? What would lead a wise, godly man to not only choose wrongly here - but also to offer very godless advice to Absalom as one of his first acts as his counselor? In 2 Samuel 16 he encouraged Absalom to commit adultery and rape with 10 of David’s concubines in broad daylight before all of Israel in Jerusalem. That is not godly counsel! What would lead a man who once was seen as a source of godly wisdom to give such unwise, unholy counsel?

Something we know only by examining the genealogies of Scripture is that Ahithophel had a granddaughter who was well known in the annals of Scripture. We read in 2 Samuel 23:34 that Ahithophel’s son was named Eliam. What we don’t see, unless we examine the records closer, is who Eliam’s daughter and Ahithophel’s granddaughter was. Her name was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam. Bathsheba was Ahithophel’s granddaughter. This was how a godly man began to descend down a path of bitterness that eventually destroyed not just his wisdom, but eventually destroyed him in the end.

What a blow it had to be to learn of David’s betrayal to him and his family. Ahithophel had served with honor and distinction - had given his son to the fight - had even given his son-in-law as well (for Uriah was one of the mighty men of David too). David repented of his sin in the end - even writing publicly sung Psalms that spoke of his betrayal and wickedness. But something happened to Ahithophel in the process. We are warned in the New Testament to beware of any root of bitterness that may spring up in us that will defile us and many around us. David bears responsibility for his sin and for being a stumbling block to Ahithophel, but it was also this man’s responsibility to forgive as well - even when it was excruciating to do so. But it is evident that he did not - but began to nurse bitterness and a grudge against David.

Then the day came that an opportunity arose for Ahithophel. David’s passivity toward his son was costing him the kingdom. Absalom had effectively stolen the hearts of many in Israel and a rebellion was begun. One of the early things Absalom did was to ask Ahithophel to be a part of the rebellion - and Ahithophel gladly rose to the task. His ungodly advice to begin Absalom’s rule by invading and then raping the 10 concubines left to care for the house was shocking. But it had its desired results in that it burned any bridge left between David and Absalom. Then Ahithophel counseled Absalom to let him had a large strike force he would take and use to chase down and kill David. He was not focused on winning a battle - but on making sure David was dead. These were the actions of a man who was consumed with destroying David - as he had destroyed Ahithophel’s family.

In a strange twist, David’s close friend, Hushai - stayed behind at David’s request to thwart the counsel of Ahithophel. When Hushai disagreed with Ahithophel’s counsel and prevailed - the disgraced royal counselor knew that Absalom would not prevail. With a hurt pride - and a crushed spirit that would no longer be able to see David killed - Ahithophel went home. Unforgiveness turned to bitterness and now bitterness had led to ungodly counsel to murder God’s anointed. He saw his own demise coming - and unable to see forgiveness as a possibility (probably due to his own inability and unwillingness to give it to others) - Ahithophel set his house in order - and hung himself.

What do we learn from the sad story of Ahithophel? First, I want to make sure that everyone who reads this knows that what David did was sin - and he was responsible before God for being a stumbling block to many. It brought great damage to his own family and also among his friends. So we do learn that sin has a horrific price to it that we usually do not see in the moment we consider it and act in an ungodly manner. Hopefully we see a reminder to ask ourselves, “Who is going to be hurt by the fallout of my sin?” This is a question we most definitely should ask - and allow its answer to warn us and frighten us so that we fear God and run from sin. But there is a second lesson we need to learn. Stumbling blocks will come - and anyone who has lived on this fallen earth knows that there will be many many times we will be hurt in one lifetime. The lesson we need to take from Ahithophel is to realize that nursing those hurts instead of giving them to God and forgiving others will destroy us. I do not want to minimize the pain and hurt Ahithophel felt. I do not want to given anyone the impression that such pain is easy to deal with in life. But the truth is that our pain, when not dealt with, will lead us toward unforgiveness and bitterness. Left to grow into a malignancy in our hearts - bitterness and unforgiveness will hurt us. The damage it will do within us is only going to grow over time. Ahithophel’s hurt and pain did turn into unforgiveness and bitterness in the end. It smoldered within his heart and turned a wise man into a fool who gave very wicked advice. It turned a man who served God early in his life into a man who lived with an unholy vendetta to kill the one who hurt him - and when that opportunity was taken from him - he killed himself.

To those who have been hurt badly by another - even possibly a leader in a church - I do not want to minimize your pain. It is very real. But remember that our Lord was betrayed and left alone at the cross. He knows every ounce of venom the world can try to inject with its bite into our hearts. He did not succumb to it - and even prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing,” toward those who impaled him upon the cross. He even forgave Peter who denied Him and cursed vehemently as he did. He forgave the others who ran and left Him and who did not even stand with Him for one hour of prayer in the garden. Our Lord Jesus Christ has been betrayed an untold amount of times since then - even by our own indifference and unwillingness to speak and stand out for Him. And He forgives - and forgives - and forgives again. He has even given us His Spirit, by which He empowers us to draw on His life and power to forgive others. Bitterness and unforgiveness destroyed Ahithophel. Let us not learn or draw from him and his example when hurt - but rather let us die to ourselves and draw upon our Lord Jesus Christ and His life to forgive.

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Joy in Weakness and Need, part 1

7/15/2015

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I do not like being weak. I also am not exactly a fan of admitting that I have serious needs in my life. Yet one of the most important principles of spiritual health and welfare is to both recognize and joyfully embrace the FACT that we are spiritually weak and needy people. For the next several weeks I want to tackle this topic. It is one that we often don’t understand. We want to hear about victory, about our riches in Christ, about how God will instantly answer prayer. We want to hear about health, wealth, and prosperity in Christ. To even speak about weakness is considered in some Christian circles to be sin – or unbelief.

When we don’t know about God’s purposes for weakness and failure in our lives, we can become very depressed, confused, and downright angry when these things do make an appearance in our walk with God. Please do not misunderstand – I do believe in God’s riches being ours in Christ. I do believe God answers prayer. I do believe God wants to bless and strengthen us. And as long as we understand that it is spiritual blessings rather than just material wealth – I can even agree that God desires for us to prosper. I diverge with many though, when it comes to how God brings us into the actual possession of these riches. When it comes to the way that God brings true spiritual prosperity to us – I believe that we have to know His purpose behind failure, frustration, defeat, and desperation.

Too many in our day just want to be able to name a promise, claim it, and then have it show up in our lives. We prefer a McDonald’s drive-thru type of spiritual experience to the kind of long-term, pain and frustration ridden path that was walked by the majority of those in Scripture. Too often people preach based on the end of the story – without addressing the whole story in the process. A basic perusal of the majority of Bible stories will help acquaint us with some of the less popular tools in God’s spiritual tool box. Allow me to mention a few of these tools.

Abraham and Sarah had a miracle baby in their 90’s – but it was only after years of disappointment and painful discouragement. It was only after seeing the folly of taking matters into their own hands (Hagar and Ishmael). It was only after reaching the point of having little hope – and yet believing God’s promise. All too often we bypass the years 25-90 in their lives. We miss that they were thoroughly convinced of their own inability – and had to hold fast to the Lord in weakness and need. More is accomplished in those days of dryness, darkness, and sorrow than we can imagine. Things happen in the wake of religious fervor becoming religious failure that cannot happen anywhere else.

We don’t usually talk about such things. We don’t invite people who are in the midst of their dark and dry times to address conferences and big meetings. Yet it would be wonderful if someone would help us walk through them. The average new believer comes to Christ in the midst of thrill and joy. They can walk with God out of sheer exhilaration for 12-18 months (by the way some don’t make it this long). The problem comes when God begins to address the issue of living out of ourselves as a source. Difficulties arise as we face the cross – the self-life – the descent into the problem of indwelling sin – and the depth of our need and inability to live for God without resurrection power.

God’s school of true spirituality involves breaking our love affair with ourselves and our own relative comfort. It involves turning us from our own wisdom and thoughts to a life reliant on God’s wisdom – and an ability to think the thoughts of God day and night. It is a school where the fundamentals of denying ourselves and taking up our cross are reviewed again and again in real life situations. We will find that our Father is astoundingly patient and longsuffering in His quest for us to truly grasp the cross-centered life. That life – and the full experience of His life involves taking the Romans 7 highway – the death to self turnpike – and the “I am crucified with Christ” freeway.

It is on these well travelled roads that we will learn the “secret” to the Christian life is only secret because we wrongly despise need, weakness, and the way to brokenness. Rather than be discouraged by these things – we should be filled with joy when God engineers them in our lives. It is my hope before this series of articles are over to help you see why Paul said that he would gladly boast in his weaknesses. It is my hope that rather than send you constantly in a tailspin of depression and sadness – times of recognizing weakness will become a reason for gladness and joy. Whether we see it yet or not – these momentary difficulties (when viewed in light of eternity) are truly working for us a “weight of glory” as we learn to approach God fully aware of our great weakness and need.

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The Sad Story of Ahithophel - Wisdom Destroyed by Bitterness

Joy in Weakness and Need, part 1

Biblical Articles

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​Articles

The Sad Story of Ahithophel - Wisdom Destroyed by Bitterness

Joy in Weakness and Need, part 1

Biblical Articles

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Articles