Ahithophel: A Type of Judas

575 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 16:23-17:4, “Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. 17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 "I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. 3 "Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace." 4 And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel. (2 Sam 16:23-17:4) This is an amazing picture of our Lord's last night on earth. Ahithophel here, serving as a “type” of Judas, who worked with the council in Jerusalem to bring Jesus in and put Him to death. Judas took an excessive number of soldiers with him to take Jesus in, and that was Ahithophel's plan to take David as well. The strategy was right out of Mt 21:38, “Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' and Zec 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.” Ahithophel said in v2, “I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. (Jesus was weary, weak, and afraid as He prayed in the Garden) And all the people who are with him will flee, (that's exactly what happened in the Garden as the disciples scattered!) and I will strike only the king. (Jesus alone was arrested) 3 "Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace." (This was the hope of the ruling council at Jerusalem. The end of Jesus would be the end of this movement, and they could go on living in their sweet arrangement of compromise with the Romans.) The plan seemed so right to the council, but God had other ideas. Take heart from this incident, knowing the truth of Isa 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. Father, help us to always remember our heritage in Christ, especially when the enemy threatens.