AHITHOPHEL AND ABSALOM

2 Samuel 16.21-22

And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2 Samuel 17:1-3

Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

Good morning friends. Glory be to God for an opportunity to see yet another beautiful day in the land of the living.

For some days, we have been studying FRIENDS. We have studied who is your friend, are you a true friend and yesterday, we started studying the influence of friend over their friends.  We saw how Jonadab influenced Amnon to rape his half sister, Tamar.

Today, we are continuing with the study of the influence of Ahithophel on Absalom.

Who is Ahithophel?

Ahitophel, Achitofel, or Ahithophel was a Special Adviser to King David and a man greatly renowned for his wisdom.

Ahithophel is the grandfather of Bathsheba! The daughter of his son had a tragic end to her marriage because of David. Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, was killed through the conniving plan of David in his desperate attempt to hide the fact that he was the father of the child that Bathsheba was carrying.

When David had learned that the woman he wanted was married and the granddaughter of Ahithophel, his most trusted advisor, he should have come to his senses and abandoned his plans of taking advantage of her. Instead, he forced himself upon her in spite of this information. His decision to sin in this way had tragic consequences for him and many others.

Ahithophel never got over this betrayal by David and he was waiting for his opportunity to get revenge because he felt he had harmed his family.

2 Samuel 13–19 presented Absalom as an Alcibiade of the Old Testament, alike in his personal attractiveness, his lawless insolence, and his tragic fate.

He is first mentioned as murdering his half-brother Amnon, David’s eldest son, in revenge for the rape of his full sister, Tamar. For this, he was driven into banishment, but he was eventually restored to favour through the good offices of his cousin, Joab.

He was the third son of King David. His mother, Maacaah was a prisoner of war.  Maacah was the daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur.

Because of the hostility between Ahithophel and King David, Ahithophel crossed to Absalom’s side against king David.

Absalom was an handsome man and king David loved him so much that he must have been wishing him to be his successor despite his having two brothers ahead.

When some uncertainty seems to have arisen as to the succession, Absalom organized a revolt against his father, King David. The king, with a few followers and his personal guard, fled across the Jordan, leaving to Absalom Jerusalem and the main portion of the kingdom. Absalom pursued his father and his followers but he was completely defeated in “the forest of Ephraim” and killed by Joab, who found him caught by the hair in an oak tree.

Absalom wanted to become the king and he was not willing to wait until his father, king David died. Besides, having killed Amnon for raping his sister, he still have an elder brother who in order of seniority ranked prior to him to the throne in succession plan.

Absalom was an apple of his father’s eye, not minding the fact that his mother was a prisoner of war, yet he waged war against his father on the counsel and influence of Ahithophel. He eventually died in the process and Ahithophel committed suicide.

Who is the Ahithophel in your life that is influencing you negatively?  Ahithophel is not limited to your friend that is inciting you against your parents. Ahithophel is that your friend that is counselling you not to submit to your husband, love your wife or provide for your home.

I encourage you to learn of Christ

Matthew 11.29 – “… and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”.

And be like Him to avoid facing the repercussion that Absalom faced.

Until tomorrow if Jesus tarries and He permits when we shall continue with this study, I say have a wonderful day in Jesus name.

Don’t forget that Adesola Arilewola cares for your soul and Jesus loves you more than you know.

MARANATHA

Self-Reflection

1. Who are the influential people in my life, and what kind of advice do they give me?

2. Am I allowing anyone to influence me against my family, spouse, or God?

3. What are the potential consequences of following harmful counsel?

Identifying Ahithophel’s Influence

1. Is there someone in my life who is fueling rebellion or discontentment?

2. How can I discern if advice is godly or ungodly?

3. What are the signs of Ahithophel’s influence in my relationships?

Submission and Obedience

1. Am I submissive to God’s will and authority?

2. How can I demonstrate humility and lowliness like Christ (Matthew 11:29)?

3. What areas of my life require surrender to God’s sovereignty?

Consequences of Disobedience

1. What are the potential repercussions of disobeying God or authority?

2. How did Absalom’s rebellion against King David affect his life and legacy?

3. What can I learn from Absalom’s mistakes?

Spiritual Growth

1. How can I cultivate a closer relationship with God to resist harmful influences?

2. What Bible verses can I meditate on to guide my decisions?

3. How can I seek wise counsel from godly mentors?

Action Steps

1. Evaluate your relationships and identify potential Ahithophels.

2. Seek God’s guidance through prayer and Bible study.

3. Surround yourself with godly influencers who promote obedience to God.

Bible Study

1. Read 2 Samuel 13-19 and Psalm 55.

2. Reflect on Ahithophel’s motivations and consequences.

3. Write down your insights and prayers.

May these in-depth questions guide you in recognizing and resisting harmful influences, and may God’s wisdom and guidance direct your paths!

May God bless you with wisdom, discernment, and protection from harmful influences. May your heart be filled with His love and guidance in Christ Jesus! Amen.

Remember, “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)

Have a blessed day!

Thank You Jesus,

Salvation Prayers

If you don’t Know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and would like to accept him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, Please say this prayer:

Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your Will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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