Bitterness Destroys

One of the most powerful poisons in the world is bitterness, because bitterness destroys the vessel in which it is held more than anyone who receives the brunt of the venom.  Bitterness is shown throughout the Bible as the destroyer of men, nations, and even keeps some from coming to Christ in salvation.  The author of Hebrews 12:15 says under inspiration, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”   In other words bitterness does damage to everyone around those who have it within them.

There are numerous examples of Bible characters that struggle with bitterness, such as Jonah, but the most clear example in all Scripture of the high cost of bitterness is a man by the name of Ahithophel.  Now many may know Ahithophel’s name but let’s take a look at his life in light of this subject of bitterness.

Ahithophel at first was known as a godly counselor to kings as he was described as this in 1 Chronicles 27:33.  As a matter of fact his advise was so sound that in 2 Samuel 16:23 we are told that his counsel was as if the king was hearing from God Himself.  Ahithophel’s advise was listened to by David and was clearly listened to because it was spiritual insightful.  Seeking and following biblical advise is always godly as even the wisest man to ever live, Solomon, tells us this in Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, and 24:6.

Ahithophel was the kind of counsellor that a leader could ask aything, such as, “What should I do here?” and know that they would receive sound advise that was stately and Bible based.  As a comparison, we can see the counsellors that our current president has now, but, then imagine if he had counsellors like Ahithophel.  Would American be a better nation?  I believe so!

But something happens to Ahithophel between 2 Samuel 16 and the end of 2 Samuel 17 as he went from being the trusted godly advisor of the king to taking his own life because his counsel was being ignored.  As a matter of fact, Ahithophel’s advise becomes so wicked that even backslidden Absalom ignores it.

To understand this downward spiral we need to grasp who Ahithophel is beyond his counsellor position and what events impacted this change of his life and heart.  So let’s start there.

1. Ahithophel has a son by the name of Eliam according to 2 Samuel 23:34.
2. Eliam has a daughter in 2 Samuel 11:3 by the name of Bathsheba.  This is the same Bathsheba with whom David commits adultery.
3. As THE advisor to David, Ahithophel obviously found out about the adultery between David and his granddaughter and he probably found out about the intentional death of Uriah, his grand daughter’s husband, and so obviously from that moment on he is seemingly filled with bitterness toward David as he turns against him.

We find that after the murder of Uriah, Ahithophel begins to seek ways to destroy David. and beginning in 2 Samuel 16:20 Ahithophel actually begins to advise Absalom how to destroy the king and take the throne from him.  The advise gets so wicked and pervere that Ahithophel even tells Absalom to go and commit adultery with the king’s women in 2 Samuel 16:21.  Now, some might even see this as Ahithophel’s way of getting even, and, though the words are not there the idea of “you reap what you sow” seems very fitting.

Ahithophel literally turns against the man whom he has helped for so many years and his counsel turns very dark and wicked and can no longer be seen as godly.

Why?  Why would a man who has the king’s ear turn so sharply against him in such a short period of time.   Bitterness!

Thomas Fuller said it this way, “Malice has a strong memory.”  Ahithophel obviously knew what David had done to his granddaughter and he was going to get even at all costs.  He allowed bitterness to destroy him and ultimately his advise against David helped to sow hatred in Absalom’s heart and that, in turn, helped to divide the nation in two.

Then finally in 2 Samuel 17:1-2, we find Ahithophel asking Absalom for twelve thousand troops to pursue after and kill David.  Ahithophel had gone from trying to get Absalom to exact his revenge to seeking to have the revenge himself.  But Absalom rejects this suggestion.  Imagine the wicked Absalom being so repulsed by Ahithophel’s suggestion that he rejects it and thus leaves Ahithophel as no longer being trusted.   Because of this we find Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 17:23 deciding to take his own life because he is no longer the advisor to the king.  

And all because of bitterness.

I know there are those who will try to justify and explain away hard feelings but there is NO BIBLE EXCUSE FOR BITTERNESS.  Let me end this post with the words of a preacher whom I recently read, but cannot find his name to give him proper credit:

I wish I could tell you that others will never hurt you.  I wish I could tell you that others will never disappoint you.  That I cannot promise.  But I can promise you that when hurt, if you do not deal with it, it will consume you and dominate your life.  Bitterness can so dominate our life that we become consumed with revenge, getting even, making the one who hurt us pay.  When bitterness fills the heart, it drives out our feelings of joy and fills us with a desire for judgment.  We lose all sense of what is right in the eyes of God and we are consumed with doing what is right in our own eyes.  A heart dominated by bitterness can turn a sweet, godly Christian into an evil and vengeful person.