Emotional Swing

“But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.” (Ps 55:13-15 AV)

The general theme of this Psalm is Absalom’s rebellion against David.  Specifically, the above verses relate to Ahithopel, David’s trusted counselor and friend.  Prophetically, this passage speaks of Judas Iscariot and his betrayal of Jesus.  Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather and may suggest it was the reason he abandoned David for Absalom.  What the Spirit has impressed upon the heart is the radical change between the tenor of verses thirteen and fourteen compared with verse fifteen.  In verses thirteen and fourteen, David heaps accolades upon Ahithophel.  He remembers just how close they were and how much they were united in heart and mind.  He shares how they went to Tabernacle together.  David takes pains to put himself and Ahithophel at the same eye level.  The king did not lord over Ahithophel.  He saw him as an indispensable colleague to the inner court.  The bond they shared can only come second to the bond David shared with Jonathan.  Then the wishes of verse fifteen, which would include Ahithophel, are in stark contrast.  What a radical change of heart from the near kinship David felt for Ahithophel to wishing him a quick trip to hell.  We know that David’s circumstances and calling are not the same as ours.  He has a physical kingdom to run.  The church, on the other hand, is called to love our enemies and try to reach them with the love of Christ.  We are not called to do the same as David.  However, that does not mean this passage is without a practical application for the New Testament saint. 

One thing to remember is that Ahithophel declared himself to be an enemy of David before David’s attitude about him changed.  Another truth to remember is just because David expressed emotion and offered a prayer under the influence of that emotion does not mean the LORD heard it, sanctioned it, or answered it.  In other words, just because the word of God records the words of a man does not mean those words were what the LORD would wish the man would say.  What we want to consider is not necessarily the substance of the words of verse fifteen as the change in emotion that occurred so quickly.  No doubt, David was deeply hurt by Ahithophel’s choice.  It is obvious by the words David uses.  What is astounding is how quickly and dramatically those emotions change.  A crisis can do that to us.  David’s wish on Ahithophel might be what the LORD desired.  We don’t know.  Perhaps it wasn’t.  But David has real and deep feelings about what had just happened.  He saw no reason for it.  Especially considering the talent of the man Ahithophel.  Surely this sage had enough wisdom to know the truth of the matter.  Surely he observed Absalom stealing away the hearts of the people while judging them at the gate of the palace.  Surely he understood the nature of the insurrection and that David was the rightly anointed king of Israel.  Then why?  As stated above, perhaps this was personal.  Perhaps Ahithophel feigned friendship all along and held a deep resentment over the affair between David and his granddaughter, Bathsheba.

Our emotions are a volatile and powerful thing.  They can influence us so quickly, it would be hard to control.  They could cause us to say things we don’t really mean.  I wonder if David really wanted the rebels to go into hell.  After all, he mourned over the death of Absalom more than was appropriate.  No one would blame us for feeling the way we do.  We have all been there.  No one would think any less of us if we felt as we did.  We all felt that way from time to time.  No one would be surprised if we harbor bitterness or resentment.  No one would judge us for being angry over injustice.  However, acting upon how we feel is a whole other story.  These emotions are normal.  These emotions are what make us human.  But these emotions must be processed.  This is what David is doing here.  He may or may not be sincere.  He may be fed up with all that he has had to deal with and is just venting.  The problem with venting is steam goes everywhere.  There are particulates that plume over everything.  Be careful.  Deal with the hurt.  But watch what you say in the process.  One cannot take back what was said once it was said.