Perfectpeace

Deuteronomy 32:35 ” It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.”

The Apostles Paul explained and quoted the above verse in

Romans 12 :19: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

God is showing authoritative ownership of vengeance!

We,mere humans, can not and should not take or act on what belongs to God.

He is just, righteous, all knowing.He  sees the motive, knows the thoughts, and understands the plot in its entirety. He is the only one who can repay someone accordingly.

If we try to handle what God only does, we will be destroyed.

Today, we will be seeing a man who was consumed by revenge and decided to play god and eventually was destroyed.

That man is Ahithophel who was David’s trusted counselor. His wisdom was great that ..” in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God.” 2 Sam 16:23.

Unfortunately he hated David for what he did to his granddaughter Bathseba. David took a married woman and had her husband killed.

I am sure this brought shame to Eliam’s household and ultimately Ahithophel’s.

2 Sam 11:3 identifies Bathseba as ” daughter of Eliam “

Eliam was one of the 33 elite Mighty soldiers of David.

Anf 2 Samuel 23 :34  tells us that “Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.”

The bible is silent whether Eliab was alive when David took uriah’s wife, Bathseba. But it clearly narrates how Ahithphel handled it.

It is my opinion that after David’s deed, Ahithophel abandoned his position as David”s  advisor and went to his village Giloh.

When Absalom rose against his father David, one of the first things he did was “send for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. ” 2 Samuel 15:12

And when ” Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.” 2 Samuel 16:15

Now we can see how Ahithophel revenge plays out.

His first advice to Absalom was

“Lie with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench in your father’s nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.” 2 Samuel 16:21

Remember David took Ahithophel granddaughter in private, but Ahithophel wants to humiliate David infront all of Israel.

His second advice was

“I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
2: I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king” 2 Samuel 17:1

Fortunately for the king, he had humbled himself and prayed “O Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” 2 Samuel 15:31

The Lord indeed frustrated the advice of Ahithophel

2 Samuel 17:14 :Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.”

Ahithophel was not pleased. His full revenge did not play out.

“When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.” 2 Samuel 17:23

The hate, need for revenge, and possibly pride sent this man to the grave.

I wonder if he had forgiven…  what would have happened.

Atleast he would have seen his granddaughter, Bathseba become queen, and his great-grand son become one of the greatest kings of Israel.

It’s dangerous for us to play god, rather  leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

Revenge is not ours.

Shalom.