May 31
2 Sam 17:1-29 | PS 119:129-152 | Prov 16:12-13 | John 19:23-42
Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheeba, as can be seen by 2 Samuel 11:3 and 23:34. What King David did with Bathsheeba and to her husband Uriah was disgraceful. But David had fully repented, as he acknowledged his wrongdoing in 2 Samuel 12:13, and in more vivid fashion in Psalm 51. God forgave David, but Ahithophel did not. Ahithophel was one of David's trusted advisors, all the time, unable to say much or do much against David, he patiently waited, consumed with his desire for revenge. His opportunity finally arrived when Absalom gained power and he quickly defected from King David. From a military standpoint he gave excellent advice to Absalom in 2 Samuel 16:15-17:4. But Absalom rejected his advice and with it his chance for revenge. So we see the sad end of his life in 2 Samuel 17:23, "When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb." We read in Romans 12:19, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord." Though Ahithophel felt justified in his actions of revenge over David's wrongdoing, it was not his to do, it was God's right, and Ahithophel fell victim to his own actions.
If anyone ever deserved to exact revenge it was Jesus. Sinless since birth, maligned falsely, beaten savagely, humiliated and mocked, hung in front of those passing as a spectacle. Not only did He deserve to exact revenge, but He had the power to do so. But that is not why Jesus came to earth. He was not seeking to condemn those responsible, He came to free all of those who desire their freedom from the bondage of sin and the sting of death. We read in John 19:28-30, "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." For Jesus it was not about getting even, but about looking upon them, looking upon you and me, and saying "I will save them".
We often fail to acknowledge who we are and who Jesus is. We so often forget that our starting point is hell, not heaven. We often forget that our actions day in and day out deserve judgment. Instead of looking outward at those in our own circles, those in politics, those in the media and be desiring of their public falling in their receiving what we have determined to be true justice, may we seek to be God's true ambassadors and seek to reflect His light of love and leave matters of vengeance and retribution to God.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: