STAY AWAY FROM THEM
STAY AWAY FROM THEM.
Anger, Bitterness, Envy and Jealousy are self destructive emotions. They eat up the one who feels them even up to the point of death. Stay away from them.
In exhibiting these emotions, one shows that they are unable to control themselves.
And the more they think about or focus on the object of their negativity, the deeper they are pulled into a bottomless cesspool where anything can happen.
There was once a very wise man. So wise was he that his counsel was sought after by all and especially the king. His name was Ahithophel. He was endowed with great wisdom and insight. The king relied on him and was very confident in him. “Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.” 2 Samuel 16:23 NIV
Ahithophel only had to say the word and king David knew it would happen exactly like he said.
And then one day, something terrible happened. The king got carried away and ended up in an adulterous affair that spiralled completely out of control and eventually led to a murder. The one who was violated in adultery was the grand daughter of Ahithophel and king David tried to cover his wrong by bringing her husband home from the war front with the hope that he would make love to his wife. That plot failed and king David pushed him to the battle front and left him unprotected. This man was Uriah the Hitite. He died in battle. King David had killed the son-in-law of Ahithophel.
The woman in question was Bathseba and her father Eliam was Ahithophels son. Ahithophel was Bathseba’s grandfather.
Ahithophel was furious. He was hurt. He felt betrayed. He was very bitter. He was angry. And from that moment he began to find a way to bring the king down.
Bitterness is indeed a very bitter emotion. It consumes the bearer. It takes away every joy, every sound of laughter, every pleasure is erased. And so the Bitterness consumed Ahithophel and he joined forces with Absalom, David’s son, who was on the opposing side of his father.
Ahithophel had every right to feel bad but he forgot that David was anointed of God by Samuel the prophet, and David was a man after God’s own heart.
The bible says this clearly “Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” Psalm 105:15 KJV
This does not excuse David’s wrong. No! Not at all.
David knew he had done wrong. And he was truly repentant. The whole of Psalm 51 chronicles how sorry and repentant he was. “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” Psalm 51:4 NIV David owned and acknowledged his evil deed. He was not shifting the blame to anyone. He accepted all responsibility. King David came to God with a broken spirit and a contrite heart. And God did not despise him.
But Ahithophel, was completely eaten up by the negative emotions. He kept plotting and scheming with Absalom, who was against his father, king David. They were plotting the downfall of a man anointed by God; a man delivered by God and a man forgiven by God. David had moved on as allowed by God, but Ahithophel stayed in that place of anger and bitterness and remained there.
When it came to David’s knowledge that Ahithophel was with Absalom, he knew only God could save him because Ahithophel’s counsel was always spot on. David prayed a simple prayer. “And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” 2 Samuel 15:31 KJV
And that was all it took.
Absalom rejected Ahithophel’s “wise” counsel and thought it foolish indeed. And the bible records this:
“When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.” 2 Samuel 17:23 NIV
And thus ended the life of that wise man, in a very foolish way indeed.
What a shame!
Dear friends, there is a lot to learn from the story of Ahithophel. Don’t go trying to destroy a man anointed by God. Know that the gifts of God are without repentance. So while you are still smarting about one offence or hurt, the offender has pleaded their cause before God and God has forgiven them.
Imagine Ahithophel, hanging himself. His wisdom and counsel were legendary but the negative emotions of
Anger, Bitterness, Envy and Jealousy ruined him and cut short his destiny.
Let us all be guided.
STAY AWAY FROM THEM.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©