Disappointment in the Bible

Ahithophel Bible

Study Events

Christianity Oasis provides this Disappointment in the Bible and the Ahithophel Bible study. We'll look into that and all aspects of the Bible seeking truth, understanding and then peace.


Daily Bread Devotional Bible Study
The Second Book of Samuel
Chapter 16


Disappointment in the Bible

Ahithophel Bible Study

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our Disappointment in the Bible taking a serious look into the Ahithophel Bible study and how the very concerning Disappointment in the Bible message affects your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.

What is Disappointment in the Bible
Ahithophel Bible Study Lesson

It's a pleasure to have you back to share more Daily Bread! We left our story with David's strategy against Absalom's plan to overtake the Throne of Israel. David sent in a friend, Hushai, to become an advisor for Absalom (and to spy on him). Absalom already has Ahithophel as an advisor though. So, David hopes to have Hushai's advice appear better to Absalom than Ahithophel's advice. We'll see ...

When David was a short way beyond the hill (Mount Olivet), Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth (remember ... Jonathan's boy) met him with a couple of mules carrying 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. David asked, "Why have you brought these?"

Ziba responded, "The mules are for your family to ride on. The bread and fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine to drink when you become exhausted in the wilderness." "And where is Mephibosheth?" David asked next. Ziba answered, "He's in Jerusalem. He said that today Israel will give him back the kingdom of his father."

David's Disappointment in the Bible
Ahithophel Bible Study Teaching

Do you think that didn't ruffle David's feathers a bit? Well, just to give you an idea of how much, David right then and there gave all that he had previously given to Mephibosheth (which was everything that Saul and Jonathan owned), to Ziba, which pleased Ziba greatly.

Then, when king David came to Bahurim (a town on a road from Jerusalem to Jericho), he met a man from Saul's family named Shimei. He cursed as he approached David. Then he threw stones at David and all of David's servants so all the people surrounded David to protect him.

Shimei shouted, "Get out, get out, you murderer, you evil man! The Lord is paying you back for the death of Saul and his family. The Lord has given the kingdom to Absalom and you're caught in your own evil because you're a murderer!"

Abashai wanted to kill this guy for speaking to David in such a manner and he said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse you like this? Let me go over and take off his head." (Can't you just picture Abishai's Guardian Angel dropping his face into the palms of his hands and sighing heavily?)

Disappointment in the Bible Explained
Ahithophel Bible Study Truth

David responded, "What am I gonna do with you sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse all he wants. The Lord has told him to curse me, so who am I to try and stop him?" And David said to Abishai and all of his servants, Look ... My own son is trying to kill me. How much harm can this Benjamite possibly do?

Leave him alone and let him curse, he's just doing what the Lord has given him permission to do. The Lord may look at my suffering today and reward me well for his cursing. And as David and his men continued on, Shimei followed along cursing him as he went and throwing stones and dirt at him. David and his men finally grew tired and stopped to rest.

Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel returned to Jerusalem, including Ahithophel. When Hushai, David's friend approached Absalom, he said, "God save the king. God save the king." Absalom said to him, "Is this the sort of kindness that you show your friend David? Why didn't you go with him?"

Hushai responded, "No, I'll stay with whomever the Lord and His people choose. Why shouldn't I serve in the presence of David's son? Just as I was at your father's side, now I'll be at your side.

Disappointment in the Bible for the King
Ahithophel Bible Study Warning

Absalom told Ahithophel, "Tell me what we should do now." Ahithophel said, "Go and sleep with your father's concubines that he left here. Then all of Israel will believe that your father hates you and more people will join you because they won't fear that you and he will one day reconcile.

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof and he slept with all his father's concubines for all of Israel to know it. Are you calling to mind Nathan's words? He said that because David acted secretly with Bathsheba, someone he knew would do the same with his wives in broad daylight.

2 Samuel 12:11-12

11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

Disappointment in the Bible Continues
Ahithophel Bible Study Summary

In those days, the advice of Ahithophel was greatly respected, and thought to be God inspired, both by David and by Absalom. So, that's exactly what Absalom did, and we've also just witnessed the prophecy of the Lord fulfilled yet again.

Can things possibly look any more dismal for David? Come on back soon and we'll share the suspense together, right here at Daily Bread!

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