Daily Devotion 26th November 2018

Absalom sought Ahithophel’s advice. He was hugely respected, and his advice was treated as though God himself had spoken it. Ahithophel’s advice though, may not have been the right advice on this occasion. He was a strong supporter of Absalom and he feared that there might be some sort of late reconciliation between father and son which would expose those who had thrown their weight behind Absalom to great danger. By committing this act, it could be seen by his followers that Absalom was committed to the revolt wholeheartedly and this insecurity would be no more.

Ahithophel regards this act as an irrevocable step and this is why he wants Absalom to take it. It will make his name muck in the eyes of his father. To have your own son defile your concubines in such a public arena would have been an outright humiliation and would have also been seen as a direct challenge to the throne. Ahithophel calculated this would destroy any affection which David still had for his son and would make it necessary for Absalom to go on with the revolt right up until the bitter end.

We have to be careful where we look for advice and guidance. Sadly, we live in a broken world and the hatred others feel can easily permeate into our lives if we are not guarded against it. Remember friends, the words of Philippians 4:8; whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.