1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,960 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist Sermon Archives. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,040 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty Baptist 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,040 Church in Easton, MA. You can find out more about us 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,280 or contact us at my libertybaptist.org or just look 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,760 us up on Facebook. And now we hope that this 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,040 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,680 If you would please turn to Second Samuel chapter #15 Second 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,880 Samuel chapter #15 as we continue our March through 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,240 Second Samuel. And once again we see David on 10 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,760 his flight from Jerusalem. Absalom is on the chase, and 11 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,160 we're actually going to go backwards by just a few verses 12 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:46,160 because I want to make mention of a gentleman of whom we have 13 00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:49,720 talked about very briefly, but I want to be the focus of this 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,200 evening's message. That's a gentleman whose name is 15 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,760 Hit the Felt. Now, I've said this many times 16 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:56,960 before here at Liberty. If you've been here any amount 17 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,960 of time, you've heard me say this, but well, I'm going to say 18 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:01,320 it again whether you've heard it or not. 19 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,480 And that is this truth. It's not found in the Bible, but 20 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,120 certainly I think it is biblical truth. 21 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,320 You understand what I mean? It's not that this is necessary 22 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:11,320 found in these words in the Bible, but it's certainly 23 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:15,320 something that is extracted from general biblical truth, and 24 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:17,680 that's this. Bitterness is the poison that 25 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,160 you drink expecting someone else to die. 26 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,040 I've always loved that. Bitterness is the poison you 27 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,600 drink expecting someone else to die. 28 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:29,960 The thought of drinking poison, waiting for someone else to 29 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:33,560 perish, when the whole time it's actually causing you to rot from 30 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,320 the inside and out, is exactly what bitterness does to the 31 00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:39,440 soul. But yet we always think that 32 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,120 we're the exception. We always think that we are 33 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,600 immune to that immutable truth. And tonight we're going to look 34 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,920 at a man named Ahithophel, who allowed bitterness to be able to 35 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:53,080 rage within his body to the point that in the eventuality of 36 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,880 what takes place in the scriptures, he takes his. 37 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,440 Own life now this might. Seem extreme and certainly to be 38 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,840 able to take ones own life is extreme, but a hithafel has a 39 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,520 thought process that takes place that if he had given it to the 40 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,120 Lord, could have been held in check and allowed God to take 41 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,400 vengeance and allowed God to be the one who was the avenger of 42 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,840 souls, then he could have been relieved of that. 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,920 And who knows how different his life could have been. 44 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:22,840 But bitterness is something that you find throughout scripture 45 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,560 that has caused great trouble and great heartache to the 46 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,120 people of God. I always think of Naomi coming 47 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,480 back from Moab after she has had her sons die and of course her 48 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,400 husband died before that. She comes back to Bethlehem. 49 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,480 Judah, who does she have? She has Ruth, and as she comes 50 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,920 back, the people of Bethlehem, Judah, gather around her and 51 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:43,000 they say, Naomi, where have you been? 52 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,000 It's so good to see you. And what does she say? 53 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,160 She says, call me no more Naomi, but call me Mara, for the Lord 54 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,040 hath dealt very bitterly with me. 55 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,760 And the word Mara in Hebrew simply means bitter. 56 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,480 She changed her name from sweetness to bitter. 57 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,440 That's what Naomi did. Job, three different times in 58 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,520 the book named after him, talked about the deep bitterness of 59 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,440 soul that he had. And while certainly there were 60 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:09,040 many great things that were taken away from him by Satan, 61 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,720 but through the permission of God, yet there was a deep found 62 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,800 bitterness that had to be solved by the fact that God comes in. 63 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:18,640 And what does he say? Do you know where I was? 64 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,360 Do you know where I am? Do you know what I can do? 65 00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:25,160 And when all of a sudden Job looked at God for who he was and 66 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,200 looked at his bitterness for what it was, He came to the 67 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,000 place where he says, I am but dust. 68 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,320 And I just give myself completely and totally to you. 69 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,760 Even Jeremiah, the weeping prophet in Lamentations One 70 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,120 verse 4, looks at the conquered city of Jerusalem, the desolate 71 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,880 city of Jerusalem, and says this, that the people are in 72 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,400 bitterness at their lot, which is ironic because their lot in 73 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,480 life was only because they had gotten away from God. 74 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:55,080 It was never God's desire to be have Jerusalem as a desolate 75 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,320 place, but they had gotten so far from the Lord that this was 76 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,600 something that God said would be a possibility for hundreds and 77 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,040 hundreds of years if they were to stray away from that which 78 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,880 God had commanded. So anytime we find the word 79 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,560 bitterness or the thought process of bitterness in the 80 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,120 Word of God, it is always sinful and unprofitable. 81 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,399 But here's the question now, why do we keep going back to the 82 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,120 well? If we know the well is poisoned, 83 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,720 then why do we keep going back to the well of bitterness? 84 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,080 And you might say tonight, Pastor, I don't deal with 85 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:26,960 bitterness. And my answer would be, Oh yeah, 86 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:31,080 well, then you deal with lying. Think about that for a moment, 87 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,640 because each and every one of us in certain situations of our 88 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,280 life deal with the issue of bitterness. 89 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:38,960 And you say, well, Pastor, that might be true, but time heals 90 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,240 all wounds. And my response to that is time 91 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,880 does not heal wounds. Time just makes wounds go back a 92 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,960 little bit deeper and a little bit further. 93 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:50,560 What truly heals the wounds of the soul, truly heals the wounds 94 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,960 of the heart, is giving those to God and allowing Him to do the 95 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,520 work that only He can do in our lives. 96 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,360 And tonight we're looking at a wise man, well, a man who's 97 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,560 supposed to be wise, Ahithophel, And we're going to see how he 98 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,040 fits into this process of Absalom trying to take over the 99 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,640 Kingdom, how he ends up taking over his life, and then why he 100 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,680 ended up taking his own life because of the root of 101 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,000 bitterness. We plead standing for the 102 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,200 reading of God's Word. Second Samuel chapter #15 We'll 103 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:22,160 begin reading in verse #7. The word of God says an Absalom 104 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,800 sent for Ahithophel the geilonite, David's counselor 105 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,680 from his city, even from Gilo, while he offered sacrifices. 106 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,400 And the conspiracy was strong for the people, increased 107 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,680 continually with Absalom. And there came a messenger, 108 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:40,000 David, saying, the hearts of men of Israel are after Absalom. 109 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,520 Now drop down to verse #30. 2. And it says, it came to pass 110 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,200 that when David was come to the top of the mount where he 111 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,640 worshipped God, behold Hushai the architect came to meet him 112 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,800 with his coat, rent, and earth upon his head. 113 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:56,760 Unto whom David said, If thou pass this on from me or with me, 114 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,760 rather than thou shalt be a burden unto me. 115 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,760 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be 116 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,840 thy servant, O king, as I have been thy father's servant 117 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:08,480 hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant. 118 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,480 Then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel? 119 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,640 Now do you see why we just introduced Who's shy? 120 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,840 Because who's shy? Instead of going with David out 121 00:06:16,840 --> 00:06:18,520 in the wilderness, David says, Who's shy? 122 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,960 You go back to Jerusalem. I want your counsel to defeat 123 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,960 the counsel of Ahithophel, this counselor of mine who turned 124 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,160 against me. And verse 35 says, And hast thou 125 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,880 not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar, the priests? 126 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,680 Therefore it shall be that what things so ever thou shalt hear 127 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,760 out of the King's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and 128 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,520 Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with 129 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,880 them their two sons, him as Zadok's son and Jonathan 130 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,480 Abiathar's son. And by them you shall send unto 131 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:52,240 me everything that you can hear. So who shy David's friend? 132 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,680 And I like that term. He was David's friend, came into 133 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,920 the city and Absalom came into Jerusalem. 134 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:00,320 Now you may be seated this evening. 135 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,000 Who shy is an integral part of what we're going to see here 136 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,960 this evening and how Ahithophel is going to try to become a 137 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,960 trusted counselor of Absalom. He is not just someone who was 138 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,560 caught into that which takes place where. 139 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,800 Remember those 200 men who came with Absalom to Hebron? 140 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:18,000 They didn't know what's going on. 141 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,720 Ahithophel came into this eyes wide open. 142 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,800 We could even put it this way. He was a Co conspirator in the 143 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,000 overthrow of David there in Jerusalem. 144 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,480 So we're looking at Ahithophel. We're going to see how Shy 145 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,600 figures into the mix. We're going to see why a hit the 146 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,200 fell thought it was wise to take his own life, and we'll see why 147 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:35,640 this all took place in the 1st place. 148 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:37,840 Heavenly Father, I pray to be with us this evening. 149 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:39,080 Help us as we get into Your word. 150 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,160 Certainly our minds may be on a meeting that is to come, but 151 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,920 again, I do just ask that you help us to be involved in your 152 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,440 word at this time, this juncture. 153 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:47,800 This is what you've called us to do. 154 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:48,960 It's what you've called me to do. 155 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,000 And so I pray that you'd help us to be able to learn from you and 156 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,520 certainly to be able to pluck out this root of bitterness that 157 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,440 might be within us as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. 158 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,040 And we do ask it in Jesus precious name, Amen. 159 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,360 I Hit the Fell was a man in scripture whose star burned 160 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,520 brightly, but it burned out very quickly. 161 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,960 In fact, you'll only find Ahithophel in chapters 1516 and 162 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:15,760 17 of Second Samuel, as well as the complimentary passages and 163 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,200 1st Kings that also speak of this very issue as well. 164 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,080 His name, Ahithophel means the brother of a fool or that 165 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,680 companion of a fool. And it seems like this man who 166 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,600 was a wise man tried for his whole life to live that name 167 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,440 down in this essence of saying this, I'm not a fool. 168 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:37,000 I'm not a companion of fools. So I'm going to try to be a wise 169 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,159 man. And certainly he did achieve 170 00:08:39,159 --> 00:08:43,120 that to some level because it says in verse #12 the very first 171 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,120 verse that we read that Absalom sent for a Hithophel, the 172 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:51,320 Gylonite, who David's counselor. So at some point in David's 40 173 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,560 year reign, here is a Hithophel who is adjoining himself to 174 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:56,680 David. He has proven himself not to be 175 00:08:56,680 --> 00:08:59,040 the brother of fools or the companion of fools. 176 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,720 He has proven himself to be somewhat of a worthy counselor. 177 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,480 But when it was time for Absalom to have the trumpet blown, when 178 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,080 it was time for the conspiracy to be unveiled, Ahithophel was 179 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,320 right there by Absalom side. He wasn't David's counselor. 180 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,680 He wasn't David's friend. In fact, that's why I think it's 181 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:19,840 so interesting that who shy is contrasted as said being David's 182 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,320 friend. Ahithophel was no friend of 183 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,360 David through actions or through his thought process. 184 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,920 Here is Ahithophel. When the moment comes, he says 185 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,200 to Absalom, I will be with you. But through all of this, again 186 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,280 we see Absalom, the son of David, who's rebelled and is a 187 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,640 attempting to overthrow the king and his Kingdom. 188 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,400 And there's a hithafel right by his side. 189 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,080 Again, not someone who's taken by surprise, but as a Co 190 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,320 conspirator. Now you might say this a pastor, 191 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:51,040 we're really building a whole verse off of or a whole message 192 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:55,480 off of that one verse that we just read verse #12 where it 193 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,160 talks about Absalom sending for a hithafel. 194 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,760 And the answer is no. Again, we're going to find him 195 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,360 in three different chapters. And what I kind of want us to do 196 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,000 this evening is to do a little bit of, well, Bible 197 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,080 investigation. I want us to get our Bibles 198 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,520 ready to be able to go through a few chapters and try to 199 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,440 diagnose. Why was this man so bitter, you 200 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:14,400 say? Well, was he bitter? 201 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,360 Well, yes, because he turned on David. 202 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,280 He turned on the king. But why would he have acted in 203 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,360 such a way? Again, I've kind of given you a 204 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,000 little bit of the ending of his life, that he will take his own 205 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,960 life. But why would he go to extreme 206 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,360 measures? And you might even question it 207 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,640 even more when you see the chain of events that takes place that 208 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:32,720 caused him to take his life in the 1st place. 209 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,200 So the first place I want us to go is to chapter #6 So why don't 210 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,880 you go to Second Samuel? Chapter #16 will go to verse #20 211 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,000 and as you do so, I'm gonna ask you a question. 212 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,240 Do you remember the 10 concubines that David had left 213 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,400 behind in Jerusalem as he evacuated Jerusalem with his 214 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,760 group of followers? Do you remember that I made 215 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,600 mention of the fact that that was kind of a foreshadowing that 216 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,000 that was something that was going to come back to haunt 217 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,880 David? Remember that the concubine 218 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,120 system was basically licensed mistresses. 219 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,880 This is what they were. It was not the fact that this 220 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,840 was what God's plan was for David, but there they were 221 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:09,400 nonetheless. And the fact that they are 222 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,640 recorded in the word of God was not that God was approving this 223 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,720 activity, but was just giving us the facts of the matter. 224 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,120 Now it's going to come into a very, very stark here in just a 225 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:25,680 moment in verse #20 of chapter #16 Now David has now again gone 226 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:28,040 his way into the wilderness. We're going to continue to meet 227 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,200 some of these people, this merry band of men that I've told you 228 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,040 about before, some that are very happy to meet David, some that 229 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,680 are cursing David. Some of them are happy, some of 230 00:11:36,680 --> 00:11:39,120 them are not. But we get to the place in verse 231 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,000 #20 where the attention leaves David on his flight out of 232 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,480 Jerusalem and then goes back to Absalom, who now is back in 233 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,160 Jerusalem. And he's realized it's one thing 234 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,840 to want the throne of the king. It's another thing to actually 235 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,600 sit on the throne and have people follow you. 236 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,440 Because now he's gotten the place where he is sitting in the 237 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,720 throne. But he still looked at as kind 238 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,960 of a pretender. There are people who still have 239 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,600 not truly followed what he is and what he's trying to do 240 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,000 because of his rebellion. And look at where it picks up in 241 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,680 verse #20 it says then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give 242 00:12:10,680 --> 00:12:12,960 counsel among you what we shall do. 243 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,360 Hey, Apithophel, Absalom says, what should we do next? 244 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,200 I want to cement myself in leadership here in the Kingdom. 245 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,440 What should be done? Verse 21 and Ahithophel said to 246 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,640 Absalom, go in unto thy father's concubines. 247 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,400 Now I'll just stop right there and understand that in our King 248 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,520 James Bible, you understand the language of when it says go in 249 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,520 unto your concubines or your father's concubines. 250 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,360 You understand that he's talking about having a physical 251 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:40,800 relationship with all ten of these women. 252 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,000 You say, why would he say something like that before we 253 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,240 even go any further? Why would he say something like 254 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,360 that? Because in that time, in that 255 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,840 period, and the way this was looked at, that they were looked 256 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,120 at as possessions of the king, where would be a place that we 257 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,840 could understand that? Do you remember when Abner was 258 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,520 looking to the concubine of Ishbosheth? 259 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,680 Then Ishbosheth found out about this and he says, are you trying 260 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:03,640 to take over the Kingdom? And Abner says, what do you 261 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,040 think I am, some kind of dog? In fact, I'm going to go to 262 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,960 David and all that took place. We're going to find out later. 263 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,560 As we go into First Kings. There's an issue with this with 264 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:14,840 Solomon as well as his half brother tries to attempt to take 265 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,920 the Kingdom by taking one of David's other concubines named 266 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,920 Abhashag. These are all things that take 267 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:21,560 place. And So what is Absalom being 268 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:24,360 told here by Ahithophel? He's saying you take those ten 269 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,760 women, you take them and prove to the people you are the real 270 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,200 king because you got the King's women. 271 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,200 He said that's a twisted way of thinking. 272 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,360 It absolutely is a twisted way of thinking, but there's a 273 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,520 twisted man. That's who Absalom is. 274 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:40,720 And if you want to know how twisted AB Ahithophel is, he 275 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,520 says, don't only just go into these women, but look at what it 276 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,200 says after that which he had left to keep the house. 277 00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:50,120 And all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father. 278 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:52,960 Then the hands of all that are with thee shall be strong. 279 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,880 So they spread. Absalom intent upon the top of 280 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:00,320 the house, and Absalom winning unto his father's concubines in 281 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,440 the sight of all Israel. You say pastors 8 Does that mean 282 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:04,640 what I think it means? It means what you think she 283 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,880 means. Why you want to prove to 284 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,560 everybody? You want to prove to everybody 285 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,440 that he was the man in charge. What a vile and despicable man 286 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,600 he was. But who is the vile and 287 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,400 despicable, and who is giving him the counsel to do so? 288 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,040 Ahithophel, look what it says in verse 23. 289 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,280 The counsel of Ahithophel which he counseled in those days was 290 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,200 as if a man had inquired at the Oracle of God. 291 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:30,560 You say, what is the Oracle of God? 292 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,720 Well, if you were to look at the breastplate of the high priest, 293 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,920 it would have something called the Urim and the Thummim, the 294 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,720 these, these special stones that were there where they would 295 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,560 inquire of the Lord. And it's basically saying that 296 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,760 is as if when Ahithophel spoke, they believed they was hearing 297 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,360 from the Lord. That's how twisted, how far off 298 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,320 they were from the things of God. 299 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,120 So with all the counsel of Ahithophel, both with David and 300 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,640 with Absalom, of course, his counsel with David would have 301 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,520 been good for a time. His counsel with Absalom was 302 00:14:58,520 --> 00:14:59,840 not. But this is how they took it. 303 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,560 They took it as if it was from the Lord. 304 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:08,480 Ahithophel was unable to get to this place, or rather before we 305 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,360 even get there. This is how bitter this man was 306 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,240 as he is giving this advice that he has to know in his. 307 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,760 Heart was wrong. He has to know within his heart 308 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,400 as a wise man that what he is asking Absalom to do, the 309 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:25,000 wickedness and lewdness of it and the public act itself in 310 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:26,560 front of all the people of Israel. 311 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:28,560 He had to have known how awful this was. 312 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,200 But what would cause him to go to such extremes? 313 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,200 What would cause him to be able to give such counsel? 314 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,520 Well, let's continue on. Again, we're going to kind of be 315 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,120 Bible investigators this evening. 316 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,520 All right, let's keep going into chapter 17 and verse #1. 317 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,360 It says, moreover, meaning this isn't done yet, this is 318 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,120 continuing. There's continuing counsel given 319 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,960 by Ahithophel. Moreover, Ahithophel said to 320 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:55,440 Absalom, Let me now choose out 12,000 men, and I will arise and 321 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,880 pursue David this night, and I will come upon him while he is 322 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,760 weary and we candid and will make him afraid. 323 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,120 And all the people that are with him shall flee. 324 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,120 And I will smite the king only, and I will bring back all the 325 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,320 people unto thee. The man who now seekest is asked 326 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,400 if all returned so all the people shall be at peace and the 327 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,080 and the saying please Absalom well and all the elders of 328 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:19,520 Israel stop right there for just a moment. 329 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,840 So Ahithophel is asked what should we do about David? 330 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,240 David is on the run. But of course, Absalom 331 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,560 understood that David was merely on the ropes. 332 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,960 He hadn't actually been receiving the knockout blow as 333 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:32,720 of yet. So what are we going to do about 334 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:34,960 this issue? And Ahithophel says this. 335 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,440 He says this is what I need. I need 12,000 men. 336 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,440 I need a quick fighting force. We've got to get to it right 337 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:42,800 now. If you let me have these men, we 338 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,600 will go out. We will kill him. 339 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,080 We will do it this very night while he's out in the desert, 340 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,760 while he's out on his flight. Let's get him while he's on the 341 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,880 retreat. Let's not let him be able to get 342 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,880 to a place where he can dig in. Let's not let him get to a place 343 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:58,840 where he can draw all reinforcements. 344 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,160 He is at his weakest point right now. 345 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,200 Let's do it. Let's get this taken care of and 346 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,079 let's kill King David. But there's something 347 00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:09,760 interesting about what I just told you. 348 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,119 I, I did say that, you know, let's do this, we'll do it. 349 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:16,079 And maybe you thought that I was saying that Absalom was a rather 350 00:17:16,079 --> 00:17:17,920 hit. The fella saying Absalom, you go 351 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,359 kill him. But do you notice what he says? 352 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,079 In fact, I have this circle to my Bible. 353 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,960 It says in verse #1 I will arise and pursue. 354 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,880 Davis's sight. Verse 2 I will come unto him 355 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,040 while he is weary. At the end of verse 2 I will 356 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,280 smite the king only. Verse #3 I will bring back all 357 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,000 the people unto thee. What is a Biathar saying? 358 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:38,560 Is he? Saying that Absalom should go do 359 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,160 it. Say no, he says, give me the 360 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:45,640 word, give me 12,000 men and I'm going to kill him with my own 361 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:50,320 hand this night. Do you see the depths of 362 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:54,200 bitterness that this man is in? We don't even know why yet. 363 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,280 All we know at this point is here is a man who was a Co 364 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:03,000 conspirator spiritor with Absalom and Abiathar goes and 365 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,360 gives him the counsel to do something wicked ungodly in all 366 00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:09,440 the sight of Israel. And then furthermore says David 367 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,400 is on the ropes but he needs to be totally disposed of. 368 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,560 And Absalom, you sit on the throne, you stay right there 369 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:19,880 because I'll be the one to go. And this very night, I'll make 370 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,160 sure he's dead and all of his men. 371 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,440 That's with him. We'll be back here in Jerusalem 372 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:29,760 and all pay the consequences. Now you ask yourself this 373 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,720 question. What is going to happen next? 374 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:37,720 Well, Absalom has this other counselor whose name was Who 375 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:38,480 Shy? Remember him? 376 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:40,520 David says. Who Shy? 377 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,920 You go back and you speak for me in the King's chambers. 378 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,040 They won't know that you're with me. 379 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:48,960 They won't know you're aligned with me. 380 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,360 But you go, and you give them the counsel that will help us 381 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:54,720 out. And then once you do so, you 382 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,240 tell Zadok the priest, and you tell him to tell his. 383 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,040 Son, to be able to go out and give me the word. 384 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,400 So we'll be prepared whatever Absalom does. 385 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,880 And so Hushai understands that while Absalom is very pleased 386 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,880 with what he's heard, that he can give him a different kind of 387 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,040 counsel that will help David. Now listen, because it may not 388 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,720 sound helpful at first. Verse 5 Then said Absalom, call 389 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,520 now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he 390 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,760 sayeth. And when Hushai was come to 391 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,360 Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken 392 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:30,880 after this Manor. Shall we do after this saying, 393 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,760 If not, speak thou? And Hushai said unto Absalom, 394 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,560 The council that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 395 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,120 You know we call that shots fired. 396 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,400 He says. He says what Ahithophel has told 397 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,160 you is not wise, and he's going to lay out the reason why. 398 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,560 Remember, he is giving counsel surreptitiously to be able to 399 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:53,240 help David. And so who Shy says this? 400 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,720 Verse 84 said who, Shy? Thou knowest thy father and his 401 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,800 men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their mind 402 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:01,640 as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field. 403 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,600 And thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the 404 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,840 people. Behold, he is now in some pit or 405 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,240 in some other place, and it will come to pass when some of them 406 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,920 be overthrown at the 1st. That whosoever. 407 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,720 Hereth it will say, there was a slaughter among the people that 408 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,680 follow Absalom, and he also that is valiant, whose heart is as 409 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,560 the heart of a lion shall utterly melt. 410 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,760 For all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they 411 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:28,920 which be with him are valiant men. 412 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,040 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered 413 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,160 unto thee from Dan unto Beersheba. 414 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,440 As the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that thou 415 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,080 shalt go to battle in thine own person, so shall we come upon 416 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,640 him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon 417 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:46,520 him as the dew falleth on the ground. 418 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,640 And of him and all of the men that are with him, there shall 419 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,560 not be left so much as one. Moreover, if he gotten into a 420 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,520 city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we 421 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,400 shall draw it into the river until there be not one small 422 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,880 stone found there. Now stop right there, you say. 423 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,800 Whoa. If he's given counsel, that's 424 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,880 helping David. I don't want this guy to help me 425 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,240 out because it sounds like he's given counsel. 426 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,480 It sounds much more extreme than even what Ahithophel says. 427 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,040 Now hear what Hushai is what understands about David. 428 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:18,320 He knows David is on the ropes. He know he knows David is in his 429 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,920 flight. He knows David is disorganized. 430 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:23,240 You know what? David needs time. 431 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:28,560 He says don't go out tonight. He says, here's what you need, 432 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,760 Absalom. He says if you go out tonight, 433 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:34,520 David's upset, it's like a like a a bear that's lost its Cubs. 434 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:36,680 You're not going to want to go out because they're going to be 435 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:38,040 upset. They're going to be ready to 436 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:40,040 fight you. What you need to do is you need 437 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:41,920 to call from Dan, even under Beersheba. 438 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,520 The idea when you hear that in the word of God from the north 439 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,960 to the South, it's like saying from coast to coast here in the 440 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,240 United States, at least from the opposite directions, but it's 441 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:52,960 the same idea is that from everywhere in Israel that they 442 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:54,840 are going to come. You call them and they will 443 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:56,760 come. And who should I? 444 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,840 Understand something that conspiracies usually only work 445 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,200 in this type of setting, royal conspiracies. 446 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,320 I've been reading a lot about the history of Scotland and it's 447 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,680 amazing right now how they're all killing each other. 448 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:09,280 I mean, it's just for hundreds of years, that's what they're 449 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:10,320 doing. They don't like the king, they 450 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,480 kill him and the next one that comes in who killed that king, 451 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:14,440 they don't like him because he killed the Last King and they 452 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:15,960 kill him too. And there's killing each other 453 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,040 right and left. It's like that guy that I talked 454 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,800 to about once that just went into the word of God. 455 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:22,480 He just got saved. He got into the book of Judges. 456 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,320 He says, pastor. I like the book of judges, but 457 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,720 there sure is a lot of smiting. There's a lot of smiting that's 458 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:29,760 taking place. And that's really here's what 459 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:31,120 happens. You have to keep the group 460 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:32,320 small. Why? 461 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:34,520 Because there's a lot of people that still support the king. 462 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,520 And So what who shy knows is this? 463 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,600 If you make the call from Dan De Beersheba, there's going to be a 464 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:40,880 lot of people that say, whoa, what? 465 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,280 David, he's gone. Hey, let's go help David. 466 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:47,400 He's our king. He's the one that killed 467 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,400 Goliath. He's the one that's given us 468 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,440 peace. He's the one that has taken the 469 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,560 yoke of the Philistines and has overthrown it. 470 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,680 He's the one that has restored Jerusalem. 471 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,000 He is the one that has brought the Ark of the Covenant back. 472 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,440 Let's go back to him. And what's going to happen is 473 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,640 that there's going to be mass chaos with people that are going 474 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:04,600 to be joining David and the people that are going to be 475 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,680 joining Absalom. And it's going to even out the 476 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,560 odds where right now, because they're on their flight, they're 477 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,160 likely going to lose. But because they'll be able to 478 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,560 have time to regroup, regather, to be able to get some. 479 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,280 Resources together on even ground, Absalom has no chance 480 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,640 against David, and he appeals to his vanity. 481 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:27,080 Did you notice that? Because Ahithophel says I will 482 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:31,000 go and I will smite him. But what does Hushai said? 483 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:34,840 He said in the end of verse #11 and that thou shalt go to battle 484 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:38,240 in thine own person. He says you go lead them 485 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:42,520 yourself. And Absalom, that man who loved 486 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:47,640 himself, he loved himself, he loved his hair, he loved 487 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:49,800 everything about himself, he says. 488 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,480 Yeah, we do need a glorious. Battle. 489 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,280 Yeah, I do need to be the one to lead the battle. 490 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:01,320 I like this. And what does the next verse 491 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:05,760 say? It says in Absalom and all the 492 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,360 men. Verse #15 Then said Hushai, Oh 493 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:12,040 no, verse #14 I'm sorry. In Absalom and all the men of 494 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,960 Israel, said, the Council of Hushai, The Archite is better 495 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,920 than the council of Ahithophel, for the Lord hath appointed. 496 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,240 To defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel to the intent that 497 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:23,280 the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. 498 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:24,800 By the way, this isn't my message. 499 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:28,360 But you can't outsmart God. You can't out scheme God. 500 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,240 And and Absalom thinks that he's gotten an end around to what God 501 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,640 wants to do and he's not going to do that verse #15 then said, 502 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,280 who shy unto Zadok, and do a hit by a Thor, the priests Thus and 503 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,120 thus did I hit the fell counsel Absalom and the elders of 504 00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:46,640 Israel, and thus and thus have I counseled Now send quickly tell 505 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,640 David saying, lodge not this night in the plains of the. 506 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,880 Wilderness, but speedily passed over, lest the king be swallowed 507 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:53,720 up and all the people that are with him. 508 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,160 And what does he say? Get ready because the battles 509 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:01,040 coming don't stop now because you need to restock and reload 510 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:04,880 because it is going to come and it is going to come very very 511 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,320 soon. What happens? 512 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,160 Who Shy is now the trusted counselor. 513 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,520 Abiathar is now on the outs. He was a man that was like the 514 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,040 oracles of God, but now all of a sudden. 515 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,960 He's on the outside now. I don't know if you've ever been 516 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,000 in a situation before where you were maybe on the in crowd and 517 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,760 the inside with a group of friends or whatnot, and then all 518 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,000 of a sudden you were on the outside of that same group for 519 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,160 something that you don't even know or maybe even understand 520 00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:33,600 why you're on the outside the first place by a Thor is 521 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:37,680 thinking I'm like the oracles of God David now absolutely. 522 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,600 They think I'm like the Urim and the Thummim and now he doesn't 523 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:42,040 trust me. He doesn't believe me. 524 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:46,160 I want you to drop down to verse #23 it says and. 525 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,560 Then the Hiphel saw that his counsel was not followed. 526 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:53,400 He saddled his ass, arose, got him home to his house, to a 527 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,040 city. Put his household in order now 528 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,200 and stop right there. Those all seem like a man who's 529 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,120 pretty wise. What did he do? 530 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,360 He got into his animal, he went home, he put everything in 531 00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:07,520 order. Here's a man who's got it all 532 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,200 together. But then the next phrase says 533 00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:17,600 and hanged himself and died and was buried in the sepulchre of 534 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,760 his father. What a contradiction. 535 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:26,280 Here's a man of discretion. In fact, his last, well next to 536 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:30,360 last act was to make sure that his family was taken care of. 537 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:34,440 And then all of a sudden, he hangs himself and he's dead. 538 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:39,400 And the story of Ahithophel is over now. 539 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:40,640 Yeah. I mentioned to you just a few 540 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:42,840 moments ago there's been times when you've been on the inside 541 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,240 when then all of a sudden you're on the outside. 542 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:46,120 I've been in situations like that before. 543 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:50,960 It's pretty extreme for someone in that situation to say I'm 544 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:54,520 just going to kill myself. I mean, does that seem like the 545 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:59,840 reaction that one would take just because one of his counsels 546 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,720 to the Rogue King? Was not taken. 547 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:08,440 It seems like that's a very extreme reaction for a man who 548 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,040 was just on the inside a day before. 549 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:12,880 But now I was just told that day. 550 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:18,440 No, no, I prefer Hushai's ideas more than yours in this matter. 551 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,240 And he takes off and kills himself. 552 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:26,080 What a contradiction. The idea of I'm going to take 553 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:29,400 care of my family. I'm not I, I have enough thought 554 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:34,000 process to be able to go and do these things, but then I'm going 555 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:38,520 to take my own life. So in thinking about this. 556 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,560 Text. I've considered this truth. 557 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:44,440 You know, every bit of person has a reason. 558 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,240 Every bit of person has a reason. 559 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,800 We may not know the reason why someone else is bitter, We may 560 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,400 not always understand completely the reason why we may be bitter, 561 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:01,520 but I would say more often than not, we are very clear about why 562 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:05,120 we were bitter at a person or group of people. 563 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,120 Every bitter person feels justified in their bitterness, 564 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,320 as if they're axed to grind as a special exemption to the 565 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:17,040 immutable laws of the sinful nature of what bitterness really 566 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:19,480 is. I have a reason to be bitter. 567 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:21,720 Well, if you knew what. Happened to me. 568 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:26,400 If you were there, if you were walking in my shoes. 569 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,320 These are the things that people say when they are challenged on 570 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:32,440 the bitterness of their own souls. 571 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,600 There's no doubt this man was dealing with bitterness. 572 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,840 But could we know what it is? How could we know what it is? 573 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:46,720 Everything we know about them is found in Second Samuel 1516 and 574 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:48,920 17. Now I. 575 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,040 Said that before, but it's only partially true. 576 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:56,200 The reason why is because the narrative of Ahithophel is only 577 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,520 found in 15-16 and seven. The narrative you understand the 578 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,000 the actual accounting of his life, but there is another place 579 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:07,080 where there is more information given about who. 580 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,200 I don't know how many times do I say a Hithophel tonight, but 581 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:11,160 it's not going to come out right. 582 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,600 Every time I say it. There's a place where we can 583 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:16,400 find all the information, or at least more information about 584 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:18,280 Ahithophel which might be able to help. 585 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:21,640 Us to pinpoint exactly what happened here and again we're 586 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:23,560 going to be Bible investigators this evening. 587 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:25,640 We're going to continue to work through our Bibles and before we 588 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,720 get there, you ever get to one of those places in the Bible 589 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,800 where there's lists of names and you say this is boring. 590 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,480 I'm glad you're honest about that all right, Amen. 591 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,240 That's OK because you're getting to those names like why why does 592 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,360 God even put these in here? Why has God placed these names? 593 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:42,520 And this one began that one and there's these group of men and 594 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,720 they have reckoned under this and reckoned under that and 595 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:46,200 you're like, I reckon I don't know why this here. 596 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:54,680 God has a purpose to every word. God has a purpose to every jot 597 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:56,600 and every title of the word of God. 598 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,640 And you would be amazed. And This is why the book, this 599 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:06,440 book is a book that you can study as your lifelong pursuit 600 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,120 and still not uncover all of its riches. 601 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,360 I want you to turn to Second Samuel chapter #23. 602 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:17,720 You know what's amazing about the story of a hit The fell. 603 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:20,240 We find it all here as we do our investigation. 604 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,600 It's all in Second Samuel. Second Samuel chapter #23 start 605 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:29,480 at verse #8 Second Samuel 23 verse #8 where it says this. 606 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,560 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had. 607 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,960 Stop right there. What is going to follow is a 608 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:43,000 list of 37 men who are ranked by the order of their exploits. 609 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:47,240 These are men who have done great things for God and have 610 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,520 done those great things with the power of God. 611 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,920 These are men who have followed David. 612 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:55,320 We could say that they are his first and best lieutenants. 613 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,120 And the list will start from verse 8 on. 614 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:05,400 Now I want you to drop down to verse #34 And it says Elefle, 615 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:12,680 the son of Hashabi, the son of the Makhathite, and then Elium 616 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:14,600 the son of what's that next name? 617 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:19,880 Ahithophel the Gylonite. Say pastor, What does that mean? 618 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:23,880 Nothing yet. But what can we establish? 619 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:28,240 We can establish that Ahithophel who we saw was a Gylonite in 620 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,840 Second Samuel 15. This is that Ahithophel, that 621 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:34,560 Ahithophel, that wise counselor, had a son. 622 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:36,520 Who was one of the mighty men of valor. 623 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,480 His name was elium now do not forget this. 624 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:45,200 His name was elium. Now here's where we need to go. 625 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:50,160 Second Samuel chapter #11 Now, if you already know where I'm 626 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:53,720 going, just don't spoil it for someone else, all right? 627 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,520 That's all I ask because the first time I saw this, I will 628 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:04,480 tell you this, my mind went, because it makes so much sense. 629 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:09,800 Why would a guy kill himself because Absalom didn't listen to 630 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:13,560 him one time? How deep was this bitterness? 631 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:20,400 Well, Second Samuel chapter #11 verse #1 say, Pastor, why are we 632 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:23,280 this chapter? Why does this have anything to 633 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:27,120 do with what's taking place? And the answer is has everything 634 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:31,000 to do with what's taking place. They came to pass after the year 635 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,280 was expired at the time when the kings go forth the battle that 636 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,360 David sent to Joab and his servants with him and all 637 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,600 Israel, and he destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged 638 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:44,920 Rabba, But David tarried still at Jerusalem, and it came to. 639 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:47,040 Pass in an evening. Tide, for those of you don't 640 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:48,560 know. Now you do know what chapter 641 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:51,640 we're in? Came to pass an evening tide 642 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,920 that David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the 643 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,440 King's house. And from the roof he saw a woman 644 00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,960 washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful 645 00:32:59,960 --> 00:33:03,120 to look upon. And David sent and inquired 646 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:07,320 after the woman, and once said, Is not this Bathsheba the 647 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:13,960 daughter of Ilium, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 648 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,640 Why did Ahithophel hate David so much? 649 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:23,000 Because he was the grandfather of Bathsheba. 650 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:36,520 Ahithophel was Bathsheba's grandfather and also David's 651 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,360 counselor. Say well, how? 652 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:40,560 Would they have been intertwined? 653 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:45,840 How would we'll understand? She would have been with Uriah. 654 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:47,280 Uriah would have been her husband. 655 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:48,880 Why? Because he also was one of the 656 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:53,120 mighty men. And so her father was a mighty 657 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:56,080 man. She would have been around the 658 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:59,800 other mighty men. I would imagine she herself 659 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:03,040 would have found one of those mighty men to be her husband. 660 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:08,600 And from that Ahithophel, who is not one of the ones who was 661 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:13,560 counseled on that night. Ahithophel had to sit in the 662 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:19,159 palace and watch his granddaughter in essence be 663 00:34:19,159 --> 00:34:25,560 forced and used by the king. To watch his granddaughter to be 664 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:30,880 with child, to understand that her husband had to have had 665 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:33,440 something befall him that was not natural. 666 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:40,120 To see the woman, his granddaughter, lose that child. 667 00:34:41,159 --> 00:34:46,800 And then to watch somehow in some way for that woman to end 668 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,400 up living with David and finding it some way, at some juncture, 669 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:53,400 some level of peace in her life with David. 670 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:58,440 While all along he watched her and watched David. 671 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,920 And he did nothing but seethe in bitterness. 672 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:08,600 So when there was a chance to knock off the king, he took it. 673 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,360 When there was a chance to kill the king, he didn't want Absalom 674 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:14,640 to do it. Why do you think he wanted to do 675 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:18,920 it himself? I will, I will, I will, I will. 676 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:23,760 It just smacks with someone who has deep rooted resentment 677 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:29,040 against this man. And then when he realized that 678 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:32,600 his counsel was not taken, he was wise enough to know that who 679 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:35,000 shy's counsel would get Absalom killed. 680 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:38,160 Now I'm on the outs with Absalom. 681 00:35:39,240 --> 00:35:45,560 Now I'm on the outs with David. My only goal in life, in my 682 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:50,880 bitterness, was to get back. And David and I failed, and all 683 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:56,720 I have left to do is die. It's a Bible investigation where 684 00:35:56,720 --> 00:36:02,720 all the pieces come into place. And you say there's no way that 685 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:04,640 we can look at this and see it any other way. 686 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:11,680 A man that was so bitter that had to sit in the palace and see 687 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:15,560 the very essence of his bitterness in front of him every 688 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:19,840 single day and never got it right. 689 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:24,280 And in the end, the only thing that he could think to do that 690 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:28,920 was left was the wisest, most foolish thing he could have 691 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:32,600 done, which was to take his own life in his wisdom. 692 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,200 He thought this was all I have left, but it was an utter 693 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,600 foolishness that he came to that conclusion. 694 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:45,000 As we conclude tonight, you may think you have a reason for 695 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:49,160 harboring the bitterness in your life, and I say that very 696 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:53,720 carefully because it could be like a Hithophel. 697 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:56,200 You have a very real reason to be angry. 698 00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:59,760 Did the Hithophel had a reason for righteous anger within his 699 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:04,520 life? He did, but that righteous anger 700 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:11,120 turned into bitterness did not do himself, David, or Bathsheba 701 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:15,920 well. In fact, it ended up furthering 702 00:37:16,080 --> 00:37:20,200 the rending of the Kingdom and furthering the death of 703 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:23,800 thousands of Israelites that shouldn't have died because 704 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:27,320 Absalom never shouldn't even have sniffed that throne, let 705 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,880 alone sit on it for a few weeks like a hit. 706 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:34,720 The fell though the siren song of unbridled bitterness. 707 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:39,320 It may sound beautiful, but listen to me when I tell you 708 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,840 this. It will ruin your life. 709 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:47,960 You could be bitter at a spouse for their treachery or bitter at 710 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:52,400 an ex for their treachery. To be bitter at children who 711 00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:54,960 have not acted the way you wanted them to act. 712 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:59,600 Bitter parents who've not treated you in a way that you 713 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:03,920 think is fair. Be bitter to pastor who's called 714 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:08,960 you out on sin, or bitter at a pastor who has unrighteously 715 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:13,120 abused his authority. You could be bitter at a church 716 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:14,800 member who seems to be slighting you. 717 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:19,160 You could be bitter for 1000 different reasons here tonight. 718 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:26,040 But can I tell you the story never ends well when you trade 719 00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:31,160 in bitterness? Hit the Fell was a companion of 720 00:38:31,160 --> 00:38:33,360 fools and he tried to live his whole life to prove everyone 721 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:38,240 wrong, but he ended up showing that in the end he was a fool 722 00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:41,240 because he was a wise man with an axe to grind. 723 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:43,840 My application is very simple tonight. 724 00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:46,800 It's very quick. It's not because I couldn't make 725 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:50,080 it in 100 different ways, but it's because I believe the Holy 726 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:52,120 Spirit's already making it in your heart right now. 727 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:57,440 Whatever you are bitter about, whoever you are bitter about, 728 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:00,320 you are not making the situation better. 729 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:04,280 You are making it worse. And if you continue to traffic 730 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:08,520 in this bitterness in your life, you will make bad decision after 731 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:12,080 bad decision after bad decision where you get to the place where 732 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:13,920 you say, well, there's nothing else that I can. 733 00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:18,080 Do than this and this extreme answer that you have may seem 734 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:21,120 like the wisest answer of all. It's the most natural answer of 735 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:22,400 all. It doesn't have to be taking 736 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:24,040 your own life. It could be something that's 737 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:27,200 just extreme in any other way and you're even convincing 738 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,520 yourself and your flesh this is the wisest thing. 739 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:31,880 This is the most natural conclusion I can come to. 740 00:39:31,880 --> 00:39:33,760 With everything that I've dealt dealt with and with everything 741 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:35,720 that's happened to me and with everything that I've gone 742 00:39:35,720 --> 00:39:37,760 through. What other course do I have? 743 00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:41,000 And you'll make the wisest decision of your life. 744 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:43,720 That's really nothing more than foolishness. 745 00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:48,560 Because it will seem like you're trafficking and wisdom, but yet 746 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:52,480 your bitterness has only made you to play the fool. 747 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:56,120 And you don't even know the difference between wisdom and 748 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:58,440 foolishness. Because your bitterness has so 749 00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:01,400 blinded you. Your bitterness is so distorted 750 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,440 your vision that you don't even know what you're doing is right. 751 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:07,480 I'm sure a hit the fells thought to the very end. 752 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:11,200 He was the smartest guy in the room, but he was a fool. 753 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:15,520 Did he have a reason to be? To be angry? 754 00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:19,440 Righteously put me. In a hit the fells shoes. 755 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:22,400 Again, we want to look at the Bible for what it is. 756 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,160 It's not just a storybook. It's a life book. 757 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:28,680 And as I look at myself and think of my daughter in a 758 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:32,240 situation, even something like that, take the royalty. 759 00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:34,480 And stuff out of that that doesn't really comport with how 760 00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:37,040 we live our lives today. But in some kind of situation 761 00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:40,520 like that, I would think, I would think a lot of thoughts 762 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:42,800 that would take me down a lot of different roads. 763 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:46,680 But I will say. This when you allow bitterness 764 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:52,160 to rule your life, you may look wise, but you'll end up a fool 765 00:40:53,520 --> 00:41:00,880 hit the fell, lived his life as wise until he was bitter and 766 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:04,200 then lived and died as a fool again. 767 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:05,840 I don't need to give example after example. 768 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:07,960 Well, it could be this, it could be this, it could be this. 769 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:11,120 Sometimes as pastors, it's important for us to give very 770 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:14,840 specific application to help you to be able to hear the Holy 771 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:16,680 Spirit speak in those specific areas. 772 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:21,000 This is one of those. I don't need to because the Holy 773 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:22,320 Spirit's already speaking to you about it. 774 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:25,400 I know He is. I know I'm not trying to say I 775 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:27,120 have some kind of extra biblical knowledge. 776 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:30,680 I just know that because each of us deal with this in some way, 777 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:33,760 form or fashion, that the Holy Spirit, because He is holy, 778 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:35,520 wants to root that out to you right now. 779 00:41:36,240 --> 00:41:37,640 He wants you to leave at the altar tonight. 780 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,600 He wants you to leave you at peace tonight. 781 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:46,080 Bitterness is the poison you drink expecting someone else to 782 00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:48,280 die. And I hit the fell. 783 00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:51,080 All I could do was get back at David in the end. 784 00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:56,440 A few weeks later, I hit the fell's dead, Absalom's dead, and 785 00:41:56,440 --> 00:42:02,400 David is back on the throne. Seems to me like all of it took 786 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:07,240 place for nothing, and that's a very definition of foolishness. 787 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:10,720 Thank you for listening to the sermon from the pulpit of 788 00:42:10,720 --> 00:42:13,640 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 789 00:42:13,640 --> 00:42:17,120 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 790 00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:21,720 know by contacting us at info@mylibertybaptist.org. 791 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:26,520 Or you can visit us this Sunday at 800 Washington St. in Easton, 792 00:42:26,520 --> 00:42:29,360 MA. May the Lord bless you as you 793 00:42:29,360 --> 00:42:30,560 grow in His Word.