The saying goes that you know who your true friends are when you go through a time of adversity. True friends will stick by you and support you in the difficult times, not just the easy ones. Deserters will head for the exit as soon as trouble rears its head.
In the closing verses of 2 Samuel 17, we read of Supporters who stuck by David in his hour of need. We also see a supporter of Absalom desert his cause, in a very final and definitive way, perhaps recognising that the gig was up. It reminds us of our need to stick close to our Saviour through thick and thin.
The events of chapter 17 to date appear to occur within the space of a day or so. Absalom, entering Jerusalem, was counselled by Ahithophel to immediately send a party to attack David while he was still on the run. Hushai, David’s “inside man” in Absalom’s court, advised the opposite.
Absalom, for reasons known to us (God’s sovereign hand) but not to the others, preferred Hushai’s counsel to Ahithophel’s. Nevertheless, Hushai ensured word got to David (via an underground communication network which was nearly busted) to warn him of the two possible courses of action Absalom could take, so David could act accordingly.
With David safely informed, the text switches back to Jerusalem and the reaction of Ahithophel to Absalom’s decision. Ahithophel “saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father” (v.23).
I do not think this was a magnificent temper tantrum. It is possible that Ahithophel thought that he would be the real power behind the throne, and when Absalom went against his wishes, realised his own dreams of power were dashed.
However, it is probably more likely that Ahithophel could see the handwriting on the wall. He could see that delay played into David’s hands, and realised that the whole venture was doomed to ultimate disaster. So he decided to end his own life before David’s vengeful troops ended it for him.
Essentially, Ahithophel deserted Absalom’s cause when he saw that times were about to get tough.
Contrasted to this is the support which David received. David retired further from the River Jordan to Mahanaim (v.24), which was Ish-bosheth’s capital in his own ill-fated attempt to seize the throne. Absalom assembled his army and crossed the Jordan himself, appointed a new general (Amasa rather than the experienced Joab, another portent of disaster), and encamped in Gilead (vv.25-6).
At Mahanaim, David received support from three very different sources. First was Shobi, “son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites”, second was “Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar” and third was “Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim” (v.27).
What is notable is who these men represented. Shobi was an Ammonite, a pagan vassal of David’s (2 Samuel 10). Potentially Absalom’s rebellion could have allowed him to regain independence.
Machir was formerly a sympathiser of Saul’s clan, because he housed Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:4-5). He could have been tempted by a little dynastic revenge.
Barzillai was a wealthy and elderly civil servant (2 Sam. 19:31-37). He had nothing to gain.
Yet all three brought “beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat” (vv.28-9) for they understood David and his followers’ need in this hour of trial.
They could have kept away. There was great risk in supporting the potential losing party, and something to be gained by opposing David for two. Yet they did not. They supported God’s Anointed King and stood by him, even to their own immediate and potentially greater future cost.
They understood that David was their Covenant King. He was the one God had put over them, through one means or another. He had every right to expect and require their obedience and help, even if risky. Given the reverse, David would do the same for them.
As followers of God’s Anointed King, Jesus, the same holds for us too. Times in this life are not always easy. Sometimes, there is a cost to following Jesus. It could be reputational. Financial. Personal. Physical, even. Sometimes immediate, sometimes potentially greater in the future.
But Jesus is our Covenant King. He is the one who can expect and require our support and obedience in this world, despite the potential for gain or avoiding loss by siding with the enemy, or staying on the sidelines.
After all, did not Jesus give his own life for us, his Covenant People? If he paid that cost for our eternal security, then we can confess his name even if it costs us something now. The kingdom to come is a far greater reward!
Like Ahithophel, we can see that this world’s gig is up. Better to support God’s Anointed King than be crushed in the coming final battle.
