Recently I enjoyed one of those father-son bonding moments as I watched some of the Star Wars movies with my older son. There are famous scenes aplenty, but one which always sticks with me (and is one of many online memes) is where Emperor Palpatine talks about his plans to finally destroy the rebellion. Ever the schemer, after manipulating various events, Palpatine states “everything is proceeding as I have foreseen”.
The idea of a puppet master (usually sinister) pervades thinking today, from shady cabals to Deep States and other conspiracies. The truth is something different, and in a sense far better. Because there is someone in ultimate control, and not in a sinister way – God. Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom is evidence of this, and reminds us of the ultimate betrayer, Judas Iscariot, whose act of betrayal was all part of God’s Plan and bidding for our salvation.
While David and his supporters had largely fled Jerusalem toward the Jordan River (apart from a “resistance” which remained), Absalom entered into Jerusalem to take up his prize (v.15) with Ahithophel his adviser.
Ahithophel was a betrayer. His counsel should have been kept only for David and his anointed successor, not for an upstart attempting to seize the throne. He was not switching employers and ignoring a “do not compete” clause. He was, in the truest sense, rebelling not just against King David but against God.
As Absalom and Ahithophel entered Jerusalem, Hushai appeared before Absalom. The author reminds us that Hushai is “David’s friend” (v.16), since Hushai is not a betrayer but a secret agent On His Majesty’s Service.
We can see this in the ambiguous way Hushai muscles into Absalom’s graces. “Long live the king! Long live the king!” (v.16) Hushai said to Absalom. Yes, but which one?
When Absalom questioned Hushai’s new-found loyalty to him given his past support of David (v.17), Hushai again ambiguously responded.
“No, for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you” (vv.18-19).
To quote another Star Wars character, what Hushai told Absalom was true… from a certain point of view.
Hushai was in, but the focus of this passage is on Ahithophel the betrayer. And it is to him the text turns again as Absalom sought advice on how to cement his authority (v.20).
Ahithophel’s advice was to have intimate relations with David’s concubines to show he was cutting all ties with David (v.21). There would be no reconciliation after this act.
Apparently in those days, the harem passed to the king’s successor, though potentially more as a symbol than in substance. By acting in this way, Absalom was making it clear he viewed himself as David’s successor, who was now officially “dethroned” and there would be no kiss and make up between Absalom and David from now on.
So Absalom, liking the idea, very publicly did as advised in a way to make sure it was “broadcast” through all Israel (v.22).
But Ahithophel’s advice was considered very highly, so even though it was in Absalom’s baser interests to follow it, “the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God” (v.23) and esteemed by both David and Ahithophel.
How ironic. Because in a sense, Ahithophel’s counsel was as if he had consulted the word of God, specifically 2 Samuel 12:11-12 (which he hadn’t because it likely wasn’t written down yet).
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ”
Ahithophel was a betrayer of God’s Anointed King, King David. But he was also at the same time doing God’ bidding, fulfilling the very thing God promised would fall upon David for his sinful adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. This was judgement on the Covenant King, David, at the hand of God.
David of course deserved it. A millennium later, another Covenant King was also betrayed by one of his close counsel, but he did not deserve it. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus (1 Cor. 11:23) to the religious leaders. But even this was part of God’s definite plan (Acts 2:23).
It was God’s will that betrayer Judas Iscariot would betray Jesus, but it was God’s doing. And that is where hope shines in judgement’s darkness. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).
Even God’s enemies can only do God’s will. And if God is for us, who can stand against us?
