Today, I listened to a sermon that I preached back in September 2023 on 2 Samuel 17:1-14, 23. It was just over two years ago but I’d forgotten this quote by the 19th Century preacher Charles Spurgeon who spoke of people being ‘guardians of their estates, but suicides of their souls’.
Spurgeon was commenting upon 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.”
Here’s Spurgeon fuller context:
“Marvel not at this one display of folly, for I shall have to show you that the case of Ahithophel is, in the spirit of it, almost universal. And as I shall describe sundry similar individuals, many of you will perceive that I speak of you. Thousands set their houses in order, but destroy their souls! They look well to their flocks and their herds, but not to their hearts’ best interests. They gather broken shells with continuous industry, but they throw away priceless diamonds. They exercise forethought, prudence, care—everywhere but where they are most required. They save their money, but squander their happiness. They are guardians of their estates, but suicides of their souls. This folly takes many forms, but it is seen on all hands, and the sight should make the Christian weep over the madness of his fellow men. May the series of portraits which will now pass before us, while they hold the mirror up to Nature, also point us in the way of Grace!”
There is plenty to weep about here in 2026 in the city of Sydney – a city filled with people securing real estate and sacrificing their souls.
Lord, have mercy on our city and our country!