But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies . . . (2 Peter 2:1).
One of King David’s sons, Absalom, revolted against his father, leading to a great civil war, in which, finally, Absalom’s forces were defeated, and Absalom was himself killed. King David’s brilliant and loyal advisor, named Ahithophel (1 Chron 27:33, 2 Sam 16:23), had also deserted David, foolishly joining forces with Absalom. When Absalom was defeated, Ahithophel, despairing and reading the writing on the wall (cf. Dan 5:24-27), killed himself. The suicidal traitor Ahithophel is an adumbration, foreshadowing, or type, of Judas, who betrayed Our Lord and ended his life in despair (Mt 27:5; and see my article here.)
Psalm 55 is King David’s lament about being betrayed by his beloved son Absalom and his trusted counselor Ahithophel (55:12-15; cf. Psalm 41:9 and Luke 22:21). Consider also the formidable admonition of Jesus: “. . . woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” (Mt 26:24, Mk 14:21).
In this connection, Jesus plainly warns us that “a man’s foes will be those of his own household” (Mt 10:36; cf. Prv 11:29, Hosea 8:7). We know that there are incompetent and unethical politicians and military officers, doctors and lawyers, teachers and coaches. We find consolation in the realization that, thanks be to God, the great majority of our Catholic leaders are, and have been, men and women of intelligence, integrity, and industry. Still, our justified anger and immense sorrow are the bitter fruit of unqualified and unsavory priests, bishops, and popes, about whom history all too frequently tells us (Isaiah 10:1-2, Ezekiel 34:2-10, Micah 3:1-3).
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