2 Samuel 16:23: “Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”

June 25th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

When Absalom rebelled against his father, King David, and tried to take his throne, Ahithophel (who had been one of David’s trusted counselors), defected from David to Absalom. He advised Absalom to go into his father’s concubines to show all of Israel that he was taking the throne from his father. Ahithophel believed David would never forgive such a public insult, thus ensuring that Absalom could never regain David’s favor.

Ahithophel wasn’t just throwing gasoline on the fire of bitterness between David and his son Absalom, he was also making sure that by helping Absalom take hold of the throne, his new king would feel indebted to him. Although there was a kind of shrewd wisdom in his actions, Ahithophel was moving without God; and in final analysis, he was being unbelievably foolish. By ignoring God’s anointing on David as king, he was ignoring God and endangering his own life. Even though his counsel was as if he “had inquired at the oracle of God,” it wasn’t wise counsel from God, and in the end he was exposed.

How we need to guard against becoming a little too clever as we mature in our walk with God. Ungodly self-confidence always seems to be lurking just around the corner, waiting to grab us when we least expect it. Ahithophel had a public reputation for being a good counselor but that was only because he had been submitted to God Almighty. After turning away from God, it didn’t take long for it to be revealed that his wisdom was flawed.

“LORD, we do not want to ‘act’ wise today, but instead we desire to find true wisdom from You.”

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1 Samuel 16 KJV

¹ And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. ² And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it , he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.  ³ And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. ⁴ And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?  ⁵ And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. ⁶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.  ⁷ But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seethnot as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  ⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. ⁹ Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.  ¹⁰ Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. ¹¹ And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.  ¹² And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, andwithal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.  ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. ¹⁴ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. ¹⁵ And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. ¹⁶ Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. ¹⁷ And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. ¹⁸ Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that iscunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. ¹⁹ Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which iswith the sheep. ²⁰ And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. ²¹ And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. ²² And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. ²³ And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.