“Now in those days the counsel of Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God; so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. … Then Hushai said to Absalom, ‘This time the counsel Ahithophel has given you is not good.’ … Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.’ For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring ruin on Absalom. … 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; he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.” 2 Samuel 16:23, 17:7, 14, 23

This is a story of pride, idol worship, self-serving attitudes, power plays and political maneuvering. Absalom and his closest advisors have appointed Absalom king and are attempting to overthrow King David. Absalom receives advice from two different counselors; he disregards the respected one in favor of the one who ingratiates himself to and whose plan exalts Absalom the most. With his ego fed Absalom dismisses Ahithophel both go to their death. Absalom running from the fight he picked while Ahithophel took his own to escape punishment that surely was coming regardless of the outcome of the battle. Obedience to God, and to the leaders God anoints and appoints is demonstrated by loyalty shown to those leaders. Its not a matter of gaining position in the leaders organization but remaining obedient to God; loving God first, then others for sake of the Kingdom of God not our own sake.