The Foolish Wise Man

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

"And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died."    2 Samuel  17:23

     Ahithophel was one of the counselors of the traitor Absalom, son of King David.  The great King David was in dire straits and Absalom was ready to administer the decisive blow.  So he called in his counselors and asked their advice.  First, he called Ahithophel who gave his advice on how to capture David without destroying his army  (2 Samuel  17:1-4).  But before accepting this advice, another counselor (Hushai) was called in.  His advice was accepted and the counsel of Ahithophel was rejected.  This decision was such a blow to the pride of Ahithophel that he decided to commit suicide.

     Ahithophel was a wise man, for he had found a place within the inner circle of the counselors of Absalom. He was also a good businessman.  Before he committed suicide he was careful to leave his business affairs in good order.  He went home to "set his house in order," which, of course, implies that all his business affairs were in proper order.  Moreover this man was methodical, punctual, and deliberate in all his actions.  Having decided to commit suicide he would do it only in a perfectly proper and honorable (?) way.  Instead of killing himself on the spot, he considers first every detail.  He saddles his ass, he arises, he goes home, he goes to the bank and his attorney and takes care of all his business matters, and then goes and hangs himself.

     What is the lesson?  The wisest man on earth is still a fool unless he is on the side of the Lord Jesus.  Ahithophel with all his fine points was on the side of Absalom instead of David.  Until a man has received Jesus Christ as Lord, he is still a fool and a spiritual suicide, no matter how wise, successful, respected, and prosperous he may be in material things.  Your first business today is to renew your allegiance to you King, lest tragedy over take you.

"Bread For Each Day"