After this, it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. (2 Samuel 15:1)
Absalom projects the status of king by securing a chariot for himself pulled by stallions and proceeded by fifty runners. When Israel demanded Prophet Samuel anoint a king over them, the prophet warned the people that kings would be a burden to them.
10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behaviour of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. (1 Samuel 8:10-13)
Samuel’s description of how kings behave was supposed to serve as a warning to Israel to think twice about inviting kings to rule over them. Ironically, Israel took Samuel’s words as a prescription, and thereafter Israel’s kings did exactly what the prophet foretold.
Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” (2 Samuel 15:3)
Absalom stirred up dissatisfaction with David’s government and campaigned against David by promising to provide justice that David (supposedly) denied the people.
And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. (2 Samuel 15:5)
Absalom was skilled at projecting a “man of the people” image. In an obvious display, he wouldn’t let others bow down to him but would lift them up, shake their hand, and embrace them.
So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. (2 Samuel 15:6)
Don’t only preach the gospel; aim to win the hearts of men and women. If you have preached the gospel and not won the hearts of men and women then you have not done a good job.
Absalom’s cunning campaign worked. He became more popular and more trusted than David. He knew exactly how to do this.
Why did Absalom choose Hebron as the place to announce his coup?
First, it was the place of David’s anointing, so there was symbolism in ascending to the throne at Hebron
Secondly, Hebron was a safe distance from Jerusalem, which gave Absalom space and time to organize and prepare his attack
Finally, Absalom was born in Hebron so this was his hometown, and he probably intended to make Hebron the capital again
So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee (2 Samuel 15:14)
Why did David flee the city?
David is unwilling to see war destroy the city he built, so he decides the best course of action is patience
Secondly, if he took Absalom’s bait and attacked Hebron he would be unlikely to muster enough forces against Absalom
Finally, if he stayed locked up in the city, he would appear weak before the people and would end up under house arrest.
So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. (2 Samuel 15:30)
Notice, how David leaves eastward going through the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives. This is also how Jesus leaves the city for the last time. Lord Jesus leaves Jerusalem with His disciples and goes out eastward to the Mount of Olives and ascends to Heaven from there.
David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. (2 Samuel 15:33-34)
David saw an opportunity to direct the affairs of his city in his absence by sending a hidden messenger to the city to serve his purposes. That messenger would work with the priests and their “sons” to do the king’s business and prepare for the king’s return to power.
Likewise, we have been given a hidden Messenger, the Holy Spirit, Who works with the priests of God to serve the King. We receive word and direction from the King by way of the Spirit and we send our requests back to the King praying in the Spirit.
What was Absalom’s greatest sin?
Absalom’s greatest sin was impatience. Absalom “seemed to stand nearest to the throne; but his sin was, that he sought it during his father’s life, and endeavoured to dethrone him in order to sit in his stead.”
An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end. (Proverbs 20:21)
This is what happened to Absalom. He lost the kingdom and his life also. How true is God's word?
Absalom projects the status of king by securing a chariot for himself pulled by stallions and proceeded by fifty runners. When Israel demanded Prophet Samuel anoint a king over them, the prophet warned the people that kings would be a burden to them.
10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behaviour of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. (1 Samuel 8:10-13)
Samuel’s description of how kings behave was supposed to serve as a warning to Israel to think twice about inviting kings to rule over them. Ironically, Israel took Samuel’s words as a prescription, and thereafter Israel’s kings did exactly what the prophet foretold.
The intriguing aspect here is, where is David amidst all this chaos? Why hasn't David intervened to put a stop to Absalom's antics? Surely, his secret service must have kept him informed about all that was transpiring.
Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” (2 Samuel 15:3)
Absalom stirred up dissatisfaction with David’s government and campaigned against David by promising to provide justice that David (supposedly) denied the people.
And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. (2 Samuel 15:5)
Absalom was skilled at projecting a “man of the people” image. In an obvious display, he wouldn’t let others bow down to him but would lift them up, shake their hand, and embrace them.
So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. (2 Samuel 15:6)
Don’t only preach the gospel; aim to win the hearts of men and women. If you have preached the gospel and not won the hearts of men and women then you have not done a good job.
Absalom’s cunning campaign worked. He became more popular and more trusted than David. He knew exactly how to do this.
- He carefully cultivated an exciting, enticing image (chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him).
- He worked hard (Absalom would rise early).
- He knew where to position himself (beside the way to the gate).
- He looked for troubled people (anyone who had a lawsuit).
- He reached out to troubled people (Absalom would call to him).
- He took a personal interest in the troubled person (What city are you from?).
- He sympathized with the person (your case is good and right).
- He never attacked David directly (no deputy of the king to hear you).
- He left the troubled person more troubled (no deputy of the king to hear you).
- Without directly attacking David, Absalom promised to do better. (Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.)
Why did Absalom choose Hebron as the place to announce his coup?
First, it was the place of David’s anointing, so there was symbolism in ascending to the throne at Hebron
Secondly, Hebron was a safe distance from Jerusalem, which gave Absalom space and time to organize and prepare his attack
Finally, Absalom was born in Hebron so this was his hometown, and he probably intended to make Hebron the capital again
So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee (2 Samuel 15:14)
Why did David flee the city?
David is unwilling to see war destroy the city he built, so he decides the best course of action is patience
Secondly, if he took Absalom’s bait and attacked Hebron he would be unlikely to muster enough forces against Absalom
Finally, if he stayed locked up in the city, he would appear weak before the people and would end up under house arrest.
So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. (2 Samuel 15:30)
Notice, how David leaves eastward going through the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives. This is also how Jesus leaves the city for the last time. Lord Jesus leaves Jerusalem with His disciples and goes out eastward to the Mount of Olives and ascends to Heaven from there.
David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. (2 Samuel 15:33-34)
David saw an opportunity to direct the affairs of his city in his absence by sending a hidden messenger to the city to serve his purposes. That messenger would work with the priests and their “sons” to do the king’s business and prepare for the king’s return to power.
Likewise, we have been given a hidden Messenger, the Holy Spirit, Who works with the priests of God to serve the King. We receive word and direction from the King by way of the Spirit and we send our requests back to the King praying in the Spirit.
What was Absalom’s greatest sin?
Absalom’s greatest sin was impatience. Absalom “seemed to stand nearest to the throne; but his sin was, that he sought it during his father’s life, and endeavoured to dethrone him in order to sit in his stead.”
An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end. (Proverbs 20:21)
This is what happened to Absalom. He lost the kingdom and his life also. How true is God's word?
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