When Ahithophel realized Absalom was not going to take his counsel, he knew David would eventually return to power - and that he would be hung as a traitor.

Why was Ahithophel so intent on bringing David down? In 2 Samuel 23:34, we read that Ahithophel had a son named Eliam. In 2 Samuel 11:3, we read that Eliam had a daughter named Bathsheba. This means Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba - the same Bathsheba whose husband Uriah was killed in battle by the order of David (2 Samuel 11:15). Now, it’s eleven years later and evidently feelings of bitterness had been festering in Ahithophel’s soul.

If I allow bitterness to be under the surface of the soil of my soul, it will eventually bear murderous fruit. It might take a month, a year, or eleven years to surface - but surface it will.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Was Ahithophel’s anger justified? Yes. But although he had a reason to be angry, he couldn’t afford the price, for his anger cost him his life.

“How many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him,” asked Peter. “Seven times?” I’m sure Peter felt smug about this, for based on Amos 1:3, the rabbis taught one was required to forgive someone only three times. Jesus, however, told Peter he was to forgive not 7 times, but 490 times - more times than a person was able to keep track of (Matthew 18).

It has been said that bitterness is like swallowing a bottle of poison - and waiting for the other person to die. David doesn’t die in this story. Ahithophel does.

Like Ahithophel, Jesus came to us with wise counsel. But, as collective humanity, we rejected His counsel. Ahithophel saddled a donkey. So did Jesus. Ahithophel rode into the city. So did Jesus. Ahithophel put his household in order. Jesus went to the Upper Room and gave instructions to His disciples. Ahithophel hanged himself. Jesus went willingly to the Cross, where He too hung for you and me. Ahithophel was buried in a sepulchre. Jesus was placed in a sepulchre. But, unlike Ahithophel, Jesus rose again.

I might have reason to be upset or bitter. But I can either be hung up by my bitterness - or I can see that Jesus took the reason for my bitterness upon Himself. We need not be bitter with anyone because Jesus understands our hurt - and it killed Him. Happy indeed is the man whose sins are forgiven (Romans 4:7) - not only the sins he’s committed, but also the sins committed toward him. The Gospel frees us not only from our own sin, but also from the sin round about us. And I’m so glad.