Discover how God uses even betrayal for His glory. What do Ahithophel and Judas have in common? Both were trusted companions—both committed heartbreaking betrayals—and both served a purpose in God’s sovereign plan. Walk through the betrayal of King David by Ahithophel and how it foreshadows the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. See God’s sovereignty over their betrayals and be encouraged God is sovereign over our betrayals.

https://youtu.be/iQB0t3lO6W4

Table of contentsDavid Is a Type of ChristAhithophel Is a Type of JudasFirst, Ahithophel betrayed David, just as Judas betrayed Jesus.Second, Ahithophel plotted David’s death to Absalom, just as Judas plotted Jesus's death to the religious leaders.Third, Ahithophel hanged himself, just as Judas hanged himselfDavid wrote about Ahithophel’s Betrayal in the PsalmsIs This Old Testament Verse a Prophecy?Jesus’s Two Shocking StatementsGod Is Sovereign Over BetrayalIs Judas Still Responsible?God’s Sovereignty Over Our BetrayalThree Points About the Disciples Questioning ThemselvesTwo Reasons the Disciples Didn’t Know It Was JudasGod Uses Betrayal for GoodGod Uses Joseph’s Betrayal for GoodJesus Could Say Joseph’s Words Even Better

The Sound of Music tells the story of the von Trapp family escaping the Nazi takeover of Austria before World War II. A young Austrian named Rolf, who had been pursuing the oldest von Trapp daughter, joined the Nazis. When the von Trapps were hiding from the Nazis, Rolf found them. While holding the family at gunpoint, he demanded that they surrender.

Captain von Trapp, the father of the family, confronted Rolf, and gave him a choice: join the von Trapps while they flee to Switzerland or remain with the Nazis. Even though Rolf was conflicted, he chose to betray the von Trapps to the Nazis.

At the Last Supper, Jesus declared that He would be betrayed by one of the disciples. We know Jesus was speaking of Judas. We might wonder if Judas was conflicted because he tried to return the money and then committed suicide. But he was an evil man, and we shouldn’t make any excuses for his actions.

David Is a Type of Christ

Jesus’s betrayal is so significant that God prefigured it or foreshadowed it in the Old Testament through another man’s betrayal, and that’s David’s. As far as types and shadows of Christ go, David is one of the most dramatic:

David and Jesus were both born in Bethlehem

David was a shepherd, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd

David was anointed, and Jesus is the Messiah or Anointed One

David was a king, and Jesus is the King of Kings

David defeated Goliath, the greatest enemy in his day, and Jesus defeated the devil, the greatest enemy in our day: 1 Corinthians 15:57 Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The list could go on, but you get the idea. Another way David is a picture or type of Christ is that they both experienced horrible betrayals.

If I were David, I would have felt betrayed by my family when they left me out in the field to watch the sheep, rather than inviting me to the anointing of the next king of Israel.

Think of how Saul betrayed David. David killed Goliath, something Saul should’ve done. David comforted Saul with music when the demonic spirit tormented him. Then, David faithfully served Saul as his greatest general. After all that, Saul spent 10 to 15 years trying to murder David, forcing him to flee from his friends and family and live in caves in the wilderness.

David saved the city of Keilah from the Philistines, but then the people he saved were willing to turn him over to Saul.

David’s son, Absalom, betrayed him, taking his wives, the throne, and the hearts of the people of Israel.

At the end of David’s life, his son, Adonijah, betrayed him like Absalom did. Making the betrayal worse, Joab, David’s nephew and great general, and Abiathar the priest, David’s longtime friend, betrayed David and joined Adonijah in his rebellion.

But, believe it or not, none of these betrayals might have been the worst! I say that because it seems like only one betrayal bothered David so much that he wrote about it in the Psalms. And it’s the only betrayal, out of all the betrayals in the Old Testament, that prefigures or foreshadows Judas betraying Jesus.

Ahithophel Is a Type of Judas

David had a close friend and trusted advisor named Ahithophel. I’ll spell out three ways he is a type of Judas.

First, Ahithophel betrayed David, just as Judas betrayed Jesus.

Consider this verse about Ahithophel’s wisdom:

2 Samuel 16:23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.

Ahithophel was so wise that when people sought counsel from him, they felt they were hearing from God.

Ahithophel is also Bathsheba’s grandfather. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah murdered, Ahithophel began to despise David. When David’s son Absalom rebelled against him, Ahithophel knew it was his opportunity to get back at David, so, tragically, this once loyal, close friend and advisor of David joined Absalom in his rebellion.

Second, Ahithophel plotted David’s death to Absalom, just as Judas plotted Jesus's death to the religious leaders.

This is when David learned that Ahithophel joined Absalom:

2 Samuel 15:31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

David knew how wise Ahithophel was and how dangerous his advice would be in the hands of someone like his evil son Absalom, so he prayed God would prevent Absalom from listening to him, and God answered David’s prayer.

Third, Ahithophel hanged himself, just as Judas hanged himself

Here’s Ahithophel’s response when he learned Absalom ignored his counsel:

2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

Ahithophel knew Absalom was going to fail, so just like Judas, he was consumed with despair and ended up taking his own life.

David wrote about Ahithophel’s Betrayal in the Psalms

Even though David ended up victorious, Ahithophel’s betrayal was still incredibly painful. He wrote about it in the Psalms, as he did with many traumatic events in his life:

Psalm 55:12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me then I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.

The level of intimacy or friendship determines the level of betrayal. If someone you’ve never met, such as a cashier at the store, mistreats you, it may bother you a little, but you wouldn’t describe it as betrayal. Why? That mistreatment came from someone with whom you had no relationship. But when the person is, as David said, a “companion [and] familiar friend,” the betrayal is all the more heartbreaking.

And here’s the important point: When Ahithophel betrayed David, it was never primarily about David and Ahithophel. It was secondarily about them and primarily about Judas and Jesus. So, we can read these words and look past David and Ahithophel to see Jesus and Judas. David described someone he had sweet fellowship with. The ESV says sweet counsel, but most other translations say sweet fellowship. Just as Jesus had sweet fellowship with Judas. David talked about walking to God’s house, or the temple with this person for worship, just as Jesus did with Judas on many occasions.

David described Ahithophel again:

Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

This brings us back to the Last Supper, when Jesus instituted communion with the disciples, and Judas ate the bread Jesus gave him.

Is This Old Testament Verse a Prophecy?

When we read Old Testament verses, sometimes we wonder if they are prophecies. The way to know for sure is the New Testament quotes the Old Testament verse, identifying it as a prophecy. That’s the case with this verse, which Jesus quoted to reveal it as a prophecy of His betrayal:

John 13:8 [Jesus said], “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

So, here’s the point: When Ahithophel betrayed David, it foreshadowed the betrayal of the true and greater Son of David, Jesus.

Jesus’s Two Shocking Statements

The Last Supper should have been a time of celebration, but it was marred by two shocking moments that dampened the mood. First, Jesus told the disciples He was going to die:

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Jesus predicted His death multiple times—at least three recorded times in Luke’s gospel. But now Jesus told the disciples why He would die: for them.

It wouldn’t be hard for the disciples to figure out how Jesus would be killed: the religious leaders. They knew they hated Him. If Jesus is killed, they will be responsible. But then Jesus followed up the announcement of His death with another statement that might have been even more shocking than saying He would die for them: He would be betrayed by one of the disciples:

Luke 22:21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.

We know that Judas betrayed Jesus,