How does 2 Samuel 16:23 illustrate the misuse of God-given wisdom? The Setting • King David is fleeing Jerusalem after Absalom’s coup (2 Samuel 15–16). • Ahithophel, once David’s trusted counselor, has defected to Absalom (2 Samuel 15:12). • Hushai, another adviser, stays loyal to David and is positioned to frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel (2 Samuel 15:32–37). The Verse at a Glance “Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was the reputation of both David and Absalom regarding Ahithophel’s advice.” (2 Samuel 16:23) Seeing God-Given Wisdom in Ahithophel • Scripture portrays his counsel as consistently sound, reliable, and near-prophetic. • Such wisdom, like all good gifts, traces back to God (James 1:17). • His esteemed status shows how the Lord can endow fallen people with remarkable insight (cf. Numbers 24:2-4; Daniel 2:21). How Ahithophel’s Wisdom Was Misused • Turned from serving God’s anointed king to enabling an illegitimate rebellion (Psalm 2:2). • Deployed to engineer sin—advising Absalom to violate David’s concubines (2 Samuel 16:21) and to assassinate David swiftly (2 Samuel 17:1-3). • Driven by personal grievance or pride, not by humble submission to the Lord (Proverbs 16:18). • Illustration: Balaam also possessed revelatory insight yet used it for gain and compromise (Numbers 24; 2 Peter 2:15-16). Consequences of Misusing Divine Insight • God overturns Ahithophel’s strategy through Hushai, fulfilling David’s prayer (2 Samuel 15:31; 17:14). • Ahithophel, seeing his plan frustrated, succumbs to despair and hangs himself (2 Samuel 17:23). • His end mirrors Judas—another man who squandered proximity to divine truth (Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:16-18). Guardrails for Us Today • Giftedness never substitutes for obedience; character must match calling (1 Corinthians 13:2). • Wisdom must be anchored in fear of the Lord, not in reputation or influence (Proverbs 1:7). • Counsel should uphold God’s revealed will, never conflict with it (Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 8:20). • When advice flatters rebellion or expediency, reject it—even if it sounds brilliant (Proverbs 14:12). • Stay accountable: seek counsel from multiple God-fearing voices (Proverbs 11:14). |
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