08-15-2013 – The NIV gives a more sensitive feel for the moment, “he was afraid; terror filled his heart.” Perhaps a bit more to the point “he became frantic with fear.” (NLT) In this state unable to call upon the Lord Saul turns God’s chief enemy for advice. A medium. Saul ask her to raise up Samuel. She is surprised when Samuel appears. Samuel tells Saul that he, his sons and the army will be destroyed the next day in the battle. Hopelessness fills Saul soul and he falls to the ground in abject fear. 

08-14-2013 – Now Saul is preparing to enter battle against his primary enemy who he has defeated several times with the Lord’s help. But the Lord has departed because of Saul great sins. Saul understands that the Lord is no longer there for him. His enemy is prepared for battle and when Saul see them he is terrified. The ESV describes it in these words “When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 

08-13-2013 – Saul visits the medium I Samuel 28 hopelessness born of rebellion.  Disobedience often leads to the demon world and the final hopelessness of the demon world. The context of this episode with Saul is important. Saul has been king for 40 years.  Saul had for years rebelled against the will of the Lord. He offered sacrifices that he had no right to offer. He refused commands of the Lord in combat, a capital offense. Moreover, Saul had chased God’s anointed all over the country trying to kill him. He topped all of this by murdering all but one of the Lord’s priest.

08-12-2013 – But there is another lesson here. The Bible records some 40 incidents of betrayal. In practically every circumstance the situation ends in significant injury or usually death for either the betrayer or the betrayed, or both.  In this case Ahithophel sees his plans disintegrate leaving nothing but death by his own hand. So our first lesson here is that hopelessness is a chief consequence for the merciless.

08-10-2013 – Jesus addresses this situation in one of His parables found in Matthew 18. Here we have the situation where the king forgives a huge debt.  But once forgiven the person goes out and finds someone owing him a small amount and throws him in prison. Jesus says of this situation of unforgiveness that the person will be delivered to ‘tormentors’ until they learn about mercy. The tormentors are financial loss, anxiety, and depression. Thus the state of hopelessness is the outcome of those who do not have mercy towards others. 

08-09-2013 – I suspect that most of us would do the same thing. You see Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel. David had murdered his son in law and taken Bathsheba to be his wife.  Ahithophel could not, would not, forgive David.

08-08-2013 – Ahithophel, knows that Absalom rebellion will fail since he did not destroy David before he could raise an army. Ahithophel knows it is hopeless he goes home and hangs himself. In this story we discover one of the basic roots of certain types of hopelessness. Bitterness, betrayal,  and an unforgiving spirit can lead to hopelessness and death. So, how do we account for what happens?

08-07-2013 – Encouragement to have sex with David’s women is taken with great glee on Absalom part and he does so in front of all the people. However, to chase after his father and kill David, Absalom is not ready mentally to face his warrior father. So Ahithophel advice is rejected. Absalom does not pursue his father when David is the weakest. 

08-06-2013 – Yet this man sides with Absalom when he rebels against his father David. Not just as an on looker rather with the direst intent does Ahithophel seek to destroy David with his counsel. First he counsels Absalom to have sex with David’s wives in front of all the people. Then he tells Absalom to pursue David and kill him immediately! A son to kill his father!

08-05-2013 – Ahithophel is an enigma. How could this man who is spoken so highly of in scripture betray a man like David? II Samuel 16 speaking of his reputation states; “Now in those days the counsel which Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.”