Gospel Reflections #1132: The path may seem like defeat

2 Samuel 17:23 ‘When Ahithophel realised that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set off for his hometown to return home. He went into his house, hanged himself, and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors.’

This passage depicts the scene in which Ahithophel, the chief counsellor to Absalom who had rebelled against King David, returned to his hometown and took his own life (by hanging himself) upon learning that his advice had been rejected.

At that time, Ahithophel was said to possess such exceptional strategic acumen that it was ‘as if he were hearing the word of God’.

Although he had been one of David’s most trusted advisers, he betrayed David and joined the coup led by his son Absalom.

When pursuing the fleeing David, Ahithophel proposed a swift and certain strategy, stating, ‘We should launch a surprise attack immediately with a small force of elite troops and strike down David alone.’ However, Hushai—a spy sent by David—deliberately proposed a deceptive strategy, suggesting that they ‘should gather a large army from all Israel and engage in a major battle’, thereby buying David time to escape.

Absalom and the elders of Israel chose Hushai’s proposal, which appeared more impressive and safer, and rejected Ahithophel’s advice, which would have secured a decisive victory.

As Ahithophel was a man of extraordinary wisdom, the moment his superior strategy was rejected and Hushai’s plan adopted, he accurately foresaw the future: ‘Absalom’s coup will fail, and David will be victorious (meaning he himself would be executed as a traitor)’.

Furthermore, his immense pride was utterly shattered by the fact that his wisdom had been disregarded by the young Absalom and his companions.

From a human perspective, Ahithophel’s plan was flawless; however, the Bible explains that ‘it had been decreed by the Lord that He would thwart (render ineffective) Ahithophel’s excellent counsel in order to bring disaster upon Absalom’.

This was also the moment when David’s former prayer—‘O Lord, please make Ahithophel’s counsel foolish’—was fulfilled by the hand of God.

Ahithophel, without fearing God, relied on his own human wisdom (the wisdom of the flesh) and opposed God’s anointed king (David).

His suicide symbolises an important spiritual lesson from the Bible: ‘how powerless human wisdom is when it goes against God, and how it ultimately leads to self-destruction’. 

No matter how glorious the path away from God may appear, it is ultimately a path to destruction.

Conversely, no matter how much the path of faith in God may seem like defeat, it ultimately culminates in victory through the Lord Jesus.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.