If an enemy were insulting me,  I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me,  I could hide.  13 But it is you, a man like myself,  my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship  at the house of God, as we walked about  among the worshipers.

Ahithophel King David’s top  counselor

Ahithophel was a counselor of King David and a man greatly renowned for his wisdom.  2 Samuel 16:23 says “Now in those days the  advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. He was a very good friend of David and together they had a strong successful kingdom.

Bathsheba

One day David was walking at night around roof of his palace and sees a beautiful woman bathing.  You know the story of Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11.  He calls for her and sleeps with her.  Bathsheba becomes pregnant.  So David calls her husband in from war and gives him the night off hoping he will sleep with his wife to hide the sin.  The husbands name is Uriah.

Uriah murdered

Uriah does not sleep with his wife and  David decides to have Uriah killed in battle.  David orders Uriah to the front lines in a very dangerous place and orders his army commander  to back off.  Uriah is killed and David takes Bathsheba as his wife.

Family connections

You know this story but you may not know the back story that leads to Psalms 55:12-14.  David has groups of soldiers called his mighty men. One is named Eliam son of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 23:34).  Now Bathsheba is the daughter of Eliam (2 Samuel 11:3)  So Ahithophel is the grandfather of Bathsheba.  Uriah (Bathsheba’s murdered husband) is also one of the mighty men listed (2 Samuel 23:39).

Army buddies

So not only was Ahithophel the grandfather of Bathsheba but he also had a son in the mighty men of David’s army and was close to Uriah. Ahithophel  knew what David had done.  He could not accuse the King. So in his hatred he began to counsel against David.

Was a friend – now an enemy

Ahithophel joined forces with David’s son Absalom who was try to overthrow David’s kingdom.  The wisdom of  Ahithophel was well know and Absalom used his wisdom.  David had already repented to God for his sins but now he was running for his life.  While running for his life,  David sent another counselor back to counter the wisdom of Ahithophel.  God allowed this to work and it saved David.  Defeated Ahithophel  went home broken hearted and committed suicide.

As David was running from Absalom and Ahithophel when he wrote Psalms 55.  The lesson is this.  The effects of sin causes unintended consequences.  Sin never hurts just you.  Others will be effected as in David’s sin.  You will find temptations but allow the lightnside to guide you away.  You never know how the effects of sin grow.