When the desire for revenge consumes us

Ahithophel is probably not the most well known figure in the Bible.  I never really gave him much thought until I started rereading the story of Absalom’s rebellion this year.

But as I mentioned in an earlier blog, in addition to being David’s advisor, he was also most likely the grandfather of Bathsheba, the woman David seduced and committed adultery with.

If one wonders why Ahithophel turned against David, you probably have no need to look further than this event. 

David, by committing adultery and murder, threw a dark shadow on Ahithophel’s family, disgracing his granddaughter and thus his family name.

And so when Absalom recruited Ahithophel to his cause, Ahithophel never hesitated. 

He first suggested that Absalom sleep with his father’s concubines, no doubt thinking it would only be poetic justice that David should suffer this way.

But then you see just how personally he took things in his advice to Absalom concerning the attack on David and his men.

Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. 

I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee.

Then I will strike down the king alone, and I will bring back all the people to you.  (2 Samuel 17:1-3 NASB)

Note his words.  “Let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David.  I will come upon him…Then I will strike down the king.”

Ahithophel was so intent on revenge, that it seems that he wanted to lead the attack himself and kill David with his own hands.

Of course that didn’t happen.  Absalom asked the advice of Hushai, David’s friend who pretended to be on Absalom’s side.

And Hushai not only contradicted Ahithophel’s advice, but warned David about both Ahithophel’s advice and the advice he himself had given Absalom.

When Ahithophel saw that Absalom had taken Hushai’s advice, he no doubt saw that Absalom would eventually fall, and so he went and hung himself.

What happens when we let our desire for revenge consume us?

1.  We forget the grace that God showed us.  More, we start to resent the grace God shows others. 

Ahithophel was right to be angry at David for what he had done.  But what Ahithophel failed to realize was that he was a sinner too and needed God’s grace as well. 

Because he forgot that, he couldn’t find it in his heart to forgive David as God had.

2.  It leads us to make foolish decisions. 

I don’t know how far Ahithophel really would have gone in leading the attack.  You’d think he’d at least have been in his 60s when this all happened.  Did he really think he would’ve survived an attack on David and his men? 

But by being so consumed with his need for revenge, he was willing to put his own life in jeopardy.

3.  It ultimately destroys us. 

Even if the desire for revenge doesn’t lead to death, it takes joy and peace from our lives. 

We focus so much on the hurt that was caused us, that we can no longer enjoy the good things in life.  And we miss out on the good plans that God has for us.

How about you?  Have you been wronged?  Have you been hurt by another? 

Let go of the hurt.  Let go of the bitterness.  Let go of your need for revenge. 

Because in the end, the person you really hurt is yourself.