What can we learn about loyalty from Ahithophel's counsel in 2 Samuel 17:3? The Setting • Absalom has rebelled against his father, King David (2 Samuel 15–17). • Ahithophel, once David’s trusted counselor (2 Samuel 15:12), has switched allegiance to Absalom. • Ahithophel’s counsel now serves the usurper, not the anointed king. Verse Spotlight: 2 Samuel 17:3 “I will bring all the people back to you like a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.” Observations on Loyalty from Ahithophel’s Counsel • Selective concern: Ahithophel reduces the entire conflict to the removal of “only one man,” David. Loyalty becomes expendable when personal ambition overrides covenant faithfulness. • Pragmatic loyalty: He speaks of “peace,” but it is a peace purchased by treachery. Loyalty rooted in convenience, not covenant, will sacrifice others for ease. • Misplaced allegiance: Ahithophel once served God’s anointed; now he serves a rebel. When loyalty shifts from God’s ordained order to human schemes, it turns destructive (cf. Romans 13:1). • Short-term strategy, long-term loss: His advice is tactically sharp but spiritually bankrupt. Scripture later shows his plan fails, and Ahithophel ends in suicide (2 Samuel 17:23). Treachery offers quick wins, never lasting gain (Proverbs 14:12). Lessons for Today • Loyalty is covenantal, not merely relational. David had been anointed by the LORD (1 Samuel 16:13). Remaining loyal to people whom God has placed over us is ultimately loyalty to God Himself (Ephesians 6:5–7). • Disloyalty often disguises itself as wisdom. Ahithophel’s counsel sounded logical, even merciful—“only one man.” Wise-sounding counsel must be tested against God’s revealed will (Acts 17:11). • Personal offense can poison loyalty. If Bathsheba was Ahithophel’s granddaughter (cf. 2 Samuel 11:3 with 23:34), unresolved bitterness may have fueled his betrayal. Guard the heart (Proverbs 4:23) lest private hurts breed public disloyalty. • The end of treachery is isolation. Ahithophel’s suicide mirrors Judas’s fate (Matthew 27:3–5). Betrayal of God’s chosen leads to despair, not fulfillment (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18). Positive Models Contrasted • Jonathan’s steadfast love toward David (1 Samuel 18:3–4). True loyalty risks everything for righteousness. • Ruth’s devotion to Naomi (Ruth 1:16–17). Authentic loyalty clings even when prospects seem bleak. • The faithful servants commended by Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Loyalty to the Master defines success. Key Takeaways • Loyalty anchored in God’s purposes endures; loyalty anchored in self-interest collapses. • Evaluate counsel—your own and others’—through the lens of Scripture, not mere pragmatism. • Guard against bitterness that corrupts allegiance. • Imitate Christ’s faithful steadfastness (Hebrews 3:6); resist Ahithophel’s calculating betrayal. |
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