WE WALKED TO THE HOUSE OF GOD IN COMPANY

Some expositors suggest that this psalm represents David’s exercises when, upon fleeing from Absalom, he learnt of the treachery of Ahithophel in plotting the king’s death, 2 Sam. 17. 1, 2, although in the long run this plot was not followed, and he hanged himself, v. 23. (Other expositors pick out certain verses in the psalm that are inconsistent with this suggestion.) Accepting the first suggestion, there are sound reasons why Ahithophel, described by David as “mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance”, Psa. 55. 13, taking counsel together and walking together to the house, should have changed his attitude to David, even to seeking his death. For it can be traced that Bathsheba was Ahithophel’s granddaughter, and David’s sin with that woman would cause Ahithophel to change friendship into enmity.

Another case of treachery comes to mind—that of Judas, who was described prophetically as “mine own familiar friend”, Psa. 41. 9; but in this case there was no change in the Lord’s character that could account for his great sin of betrayal.

But when David said, “We … walked unto the house of God in company”, he was recalling better days in the past. This causes us to ask the question, “With whom do we keep company in the local church and in the Lord’s service?”. Association with Christ and His church often divides: in Acts 5. 13, believers in the Jerusalem church were so distinct that no one else dare join himself to them. Simon of Samaria attempted to, but Peter would not walk with one in the bond of iniquity, 8. 23. The church at Jerusalem would not walk with Saul as recently converted, until Barnabas explained his conversion and change of life to them, 9. 27. One could not walk to the house of God with a fornicator, or covetous, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, 1 Cor. 5. 11. For “what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?, etc.,”, 2’Cor. 6. 14-18. All these quotations are negative. On the positive side, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”, 1 John 1. 7. We walk with those whom God adds to the church, Acts 2. 47.

“Peter and John went up together”, Acts 3. 1.