No 7.THE 2ND BOOK OF SAMUEL.           The Rebellion And Death of Absalom.

Now entirely accepted by David, his father, Absalom acquired a chariot and horses and fifty men to run before him wherever he went, a personal bodyguard for his protection.

He began to rise early in the morning and stand all day at the city gate. When anyone came to Jerusalem seeking the King’s judgment on some matter. Absalom would greet them and say,

“From which city have you come? ”

“Which tribe do you belong? “

“How are your wife and family?”

His attractive face and beautiful smile of gleaming white teeth drew many to him, especially the women! After close conversation and personal interest  in each supplicant, Absalom would earnestly declare,   “See, your claims are good and right, but the King is so- o- o! ‘busy,‘ and there is ‘no-one’ to hear you.” 

He would shake his head in sympathy, “Oh, that ‘I’ were judging Israel,” then he would sigh and smile sheepishly. “Then everyone in Israel with a lawsuit would come to ‘me,’ and l would declare justice for him.” 

When people tried to bow before him, he refused by saying, “Oh, no! no! There is ‘no’ need for you to bow; l am ‘only‘ the King’s Son. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them!

Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel. Then in the fourth year after his return to David’s graces, Absalom secretly conferred with David’s chosen leaders in Israel.

He met with Amasa, his cousin, outside Jerusalem at night. Amasa was a warrior of much combat experience and a nephew of Joab. He had learned leadership from the Commander-in-Chief, so he sided with Absalom and began to spread dissension to the militia’s leadership.

A massive rebellion against David was arising! Absalom conferred with Ahithophel, David’s wisest counselor. His Word was as if it were the ‘Oracle of God.’ He also was convinced and turned his loyalty from David to Absalom, for he was the grandfather of Bathsheba, whom David had mistreated and had her husband killed in battle.

Absalom had a mental list of grudges he held against his father, and revenge coupled with pride consumed him.

Isn’t that what we do when someone offends us? In unforgiveness, we gather a list of faults against them and let everybody else know about it! Then we reject them.

Paul in his great chapter on love reminds us that :

“LOVE HOLDS NO RECORD OF WRONGS.” 1 Cor 13:5.

The only way to be free of charge for those offenses is to FORGIVE that person and take them to the cross and leave them with Jesus and move on.

Absalom visited his father to request his permission to go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the Lord in return for hearing his prayer and bringing him back to Jerusalem.

He told the King, “If the Lord would bring me back to Jerusalem, I vowed to worship Him in Hebron. I hope l could take 200 men with me as guests for the Sacrifice I intend to offer?”

David replied, “Go in peace, my son.” Absalom turned to face his father. “Alright, go and fulfill your vow.” David had no idea what his son was planning.

From Hebron, Absalom sent messengers throughout all of Israel, stirring up rebellion against the King God had chosen! “As soon as you hear Ram’s horns sounding, you are to say,”

“ABSALOM IS CROWNED KING IN HEBRON!”

Many people joined Absalom and the conspiracy gained momentum.

As soon as David heard of the uprising, he immediately decided to flee Jerusalem so the city would be spared.

Ittai, Zadok, and all their families joined him, carrying the ark of God. But David suggested that Zadok and Abiatha remain so they could send messages as spies to him of Absalom’s plans. So they being priests, returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

Now please read chapter 15:13-37. Then read chapter 16 about David’s troublesome journey out of Jerusalem.

ABSALOM’S DEFEAT AND DEATH.

While in Jerusalem, Absalom decided with the counsel of Ahithophel to have sex with David’s concubines, and He said,” All of Israel will hear you have usurped the place of the King, and that you have made yourself odious to the King and all his house. Those who are with you will be strengthened.” Absalom smiled broadly. Excellent Advice and I know just where to do It!”

So on the roof top in a booth among the beautiful gardens this virile young man defiled his father’s Concubines. (a sexual partner especially a woman, who is inferior to a wife, yet lives with a man.) 

Following this adulterous act, Ahithophel urged Absalom to fight the armies of David. Not being sure, Absalom also sought advice from Hushai. (David’s true friend) His advice outweighed Ahithophel’s counsel, so he felt rejected and depressed and went home and hung himself! 

It would be excellent to read the following three chapters, 16-18, to understand the entire story clearly.

We now pick up from chapter 18, where the battle is about to be engaged, and David’s voice is heard by all except Joab, who turns a deaf ear to David’s emotional plea.

“BE GENTLE WITH MY SON, ABSALOM!”

Once engaged in the bloody battle, Absalom  happened to come across David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule but as he rode beneath a thicket of branches his hair became caught  in the branches of the tree and his mule kept going, and left him dangling in the air between Heaven and earth! 

See verses 9-14. Absalom struggled to get free, but his hair held him fast. A soldier saw all this and told Joab who reprimanded him for not killing Absalom and immediately rode toward the spot and threw three daggers into his heart while he was still alive. He screamed in horrific pain.

Then ten of Joab’s armour bearers surrounded him and killed him completely.

Like Samson, Absalom’s long hair was his downfall. Yet we know that the hair was not the problem but the means of their death.

It was his’heart’ that needed cropping!

In Jeremiah 17:10. The Lord reminds us that,

“The Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?”

He answers his own question.

“I, THE LORD, TRY AND EXAMINE AND SEARCH THE ❤ HEART. I GIVE ALL PEOPLE THEIR DUE REWARDS, ACCORDING TO  WHAT THEY DESERVE.”   

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, under great conviction he prayed,

“LORD SEARCH MY HEART.”  Psl:51.

“CLEANSE MY HEART OH GOD!” Then in Psalm 119:11. He shows us how to maintain a pure heart,

WE ARE. TO:

“HIDE GOD’S  WORD IN OUR HEARTS THAT WE WILL NOT SIN AGAINST HIM.”

Today, “WE ALLOW CHRIST DWELL IN OUR HEARTS BY FAITH.”

“IT IS WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVES  UNTO SALVATION” Roms 10:10.  

Then we are to, “SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN OUR HEARTS.”

WE NEED TO SEPARATE OUR HEARTS TO GOD AND LOVE HIM WITH ALL OF IT. GIVE HIM YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL.

AMEN.

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