The Fallen Eagle

AhitophelAhitophel

1 Chronicles 27:33 (NIV) 33 Ahithophel 1 Chronicles 27:33 (NIV) 33 Ahithophel was the king's counselor.was the king's counselor.

What does it take to be a counselor?What does it take to be a counselor?What does it take to be the king’s What does it take to be the king’s

counselor?counselor?

Ahitophel 2 Samuel 16:23 (MsgB) The counsel that

Ahithophel gave in those days was treated as if God himself had spoken. That was the reputation of Ahithophel's counsel to David; it was the same with Absalom.

He was a premier counselorHe was the only person who was a counsel

to both David and Absalom

Ahitophel2 Samuel 15:12 (NIV)

12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing.

Ahitophel2 Samuel 17:23 (NIV)

23 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.

His Long Slide Down2 Samuel 16:20-22 (NIV) 20 Absalom

said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?" 21 Ahithophel answered, "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,

His Long Slide Down

and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened." 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

His Long Slide Down2 Samuel 17:1-2 (NIV) 1 Ahithophel said to

Absalom, "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

Why??

2 Samuel 23:34 (NIV) 34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

Why??

2 Samuel 11:3 (NIV) 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

What could have been?

Ahitophel was called for “such a time as this” – God has purposefully placed him as the only person in Israel whom both David and Absalom trusted. He could have been the peacemaker that unites the country – his moment to shine!

Calling always comes with a test and a price!

What will be the issue where Ahitophel was to shine?

Absalom’s grievances: the rape of Tamar his sister and how David did not execute righteous judgement

What was Ahitophel’s test?It could have given him such “weight”

in a counsel he could have given

Calling always comes with a test and a price!

There is no coincidence in your particular circumstances!

Proverbs 8:33 (NIV) 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.