I wanted to share with you something I received from the Holy Spirit as I prayed for Japan. This is not a new word but I believe it is a "Now Word" not only for Japan but for all of us.
A few weeks ago, I was praying for Japan and heard the Holy Spirit speak in my heart these words: "Pray against the spirit of Ahithophel. This is a prevailing spirit over Japan." I did not know what that meant exactly. The name was familiar to me but I had never researched his life. This is what I found:
In II Samuel you find the whole sorted story of King David's sons and their many transgressions. Absalom is the third son of King David, a very handsome and secretly divisive man. Poor decisions and underhanded actions on his part led to many years of excommunication from the kingdom and absence from his father. After a few years, King David, allowed Absalom back into his presence, but Absalom was bitter and decided to win the hearts of the people of Israel with his good looks and deceptive love. After he had the support of Israel, he staged a coup. David took those who supported him and ran from the kingdom in fear, mourning the actions a very dear friend. Not Absalom, but his close friend and counselor Ahithophel.
II Samuel 15:12 reveals that Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, is a co-conspirator with Absalom. David is deeply wounded by his treasonous actions. Psalm 41:9 is written by David about his friend's betrayal...Even my own familiar friend, in who I trusted, who ate bread of my table, has lifted up his heel against me. And again Psalm 55:12-14 For it is not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me--for then I might bear it; nor is it one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me--then I might hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. We had sweet fellowship together and used to walk to the house of God in company.
What caused such a rebellion?
We all know the story of David and Bathsheba which is found in II Samuel 11. David should have been in battle with his men, but chose to relax at the castle while war raged. Taking a walk on the roof one evening, he spotted a beautiful young woman bathing. He sent and inquired about her. It was discovered that she was the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David knew these men and yet summoned her to spend the night with him. She did so and became pregnant. David being alarmed at this, tried desperately to get her husband to go home and enjoy his wife to cover his tracks. But Uriah the Hittite was a man of honor and refused to do this while his fellow warriors fought and died in battle. In a desperate act to cover his transgressions, David had Uriah murdered and married his wife!
OK, where does Ahithophel fit into this scenario? You find the answer in II Samuel 23:24-39. This is a list of "begats" that we usually skip over in our Bible reading time. Here we find a list of the top 37 mighty men in David's army and the secret to Ahithophel's rebellion. In this awe inspiring list we find Eliam son of Ahithophel of Giloh (vs 34) and Uriah the Hittite (vs 39).
Ahithophel is the grandfather of Bathsheba! David's actions did not go unnoticed by his counselor. At this moment, I am feeling sorry for Ahithophel and thinking that he had every right to rebel against David! My senses are reeling and I am wondering why I should pray against the spirit of Ahithophel. But read on...
Picture this scenario: Uriah is a decorated military hero. His funeral is attended by thousands and Ahithophel, being the military counselor of David, is charged to speak of Uriah's exploits. A week later, he attends the royal wedding of David to his granddaughter.
I can only imagine the seething anger and hatred that filled Ahithophel's heart and the revenge in his mind. And not without a cause.
Then as God would have it in II Samuel 12, David, with all of his heart, repented of his sins before God; and even though he paid a high price for his sins he was forgiven. He continued as King and prospered until his death at an old age. In spite of his sins, he left a lasting legacy and is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. This is the power of forgiveness!
In II Samuel 17 we find that the plans of Absalom to overthrow the throne of David failed miserably and Ahithophel, set his house in order and committed suicide. We do not know from scripture if David ever asked forgiveness of Ahithophel, but it is clear from the counsel that he gave Absalom that Ahithophel never forgave him.
What kind of man was Ahithophel before this happened? II Samuel 16:23 says this: And the counsel of Ahithophel in those days was as if a man had consulted the word of God; so was all Ahithophel's counsel considered both by David and Absalom.
He was an honorable man, a trusted and true friend with a bright future, but his life was cut short and his dreams extinguished by his unwillingness to forgive.
I know the pain of betrayal, the hatred it breeds, and finally the freedom of forgiveness. This spirit of Ahithophel is seeking to destroy your dreams and if given enough room to work in your life, he will take it.
Don't allow what someone else did, destroy the dreams and plans that God has for you. Don't allow the demon spirit of Ahithophel to prevail in your life. The word prevail means to triumph, to persist, to use persuasion effectively. He is persuading you to persist in your unforgiveness with feelings of hatred and revenge. These things come from him. Ask God for His help. He will give you the strength to let go of the past, forgive, and turn to face your own bright future.
Bless you!
Rhonda
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