The Failure of Absalom and Ahithophel

This passage deals with how Absalom, who had betrayed David, and his counselor Ahithophel made a careful plan to kill David, but God protected David by putting misguided counsel into Absalom's ears through the mouth of Hushai. When his wisdom was ignored and David's victory became certain, Ahithophel despaired of the future and met a tragic end by taking his own life. David, on the other hand, having crossed the Jordan River and reached Mahanaim, received help from faithful people who aided him without conditions, and remained under God's protection.

The sermon sounds a warning through the failure of Ahithophel, who, though he had received wisdom and gifts, left God and went down an evil path, following his own righteousness and greed. It points out that when believers do not use the wisdom they have received to serve God with thankfulness but use it for their own glory, they can commit even greater sin and end in ruin. It also holds up Absalom, who was so intoxicated with victory that he lost sound judgment, as a picture of believers who have grown spiritually complacent and cannot see through Satan's attacks, and it emphasizes that we must believe God blocks even the plans of the wicked.

The sermon asks why believers must live with the assurance that God is with them, rather than relying only on their own wisdom or reading of the situation. It leads us to reflect on what decision we must make at the crossroads: whether to fear God and help him, or to take the path of rebellion for worldly gain.