The Absalom Spirit
This morning I traveled to Denver for the annual Abundant Word Ministries board meeting. Ruth Hickman last year celebrated 35 years of Bible teaching ministry. I first met Ruth as a teen. She is a farm girl from Iowa born in the early years of the depression. However, the impact of her life has taken her to almost every state and overseas. She is another example of continuing to serve the Lord with a “never stop” spirit. Ruth has recently publish a 365 day devotional book that focuses on the “redemptive” chapters of the Bible. Checkout her website at, http://www.abundantword.org/
I like to say Ruth is a “little lady who has made a big impact. She is working on her memoirs of her life lessons and experiences. It is amazing to see how God can use parents and others to impact a life, and in turn use that life, to change the lives of others.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run before him. He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate...Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement… [Absalom would say] “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you…If only someone would appoint me judge in the land.…Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.“ 2 Samuel 15:1-6 HCSB
Perhaps it is a case of “too little, too late” on the part of David. Perhaps it was the result of seven years of frustration and bitterness in Absalom’s heart. Perhaps it can viewed as the prophecy of Nathan coming to pass. What we do know is that after Absalom was reunited with David, he began to divide the loyalty of the people.
He used his good looks, charisma and tact of win the hearts of the people. When someone came to see the King, he would intercept them on their journey, ask where they were from and what there issue was and basically say, “The King is too busy and not sympathetic to people like you, but if I were King things would be different.”
He did this for four years! It is hard to believe David didn’t know what was going on. But he never took any action. In the mean time there was a growing discontent that Absalom monitored until he felt the time was right. He gained the confidence of enough people and even those close to David, that he went to Hebron, where David began his reign and declared himself King.
The word came back to David,“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” (2 Samuel 15:13 HCSB) Absalom’s rebellion was final put down; but the security of David’s reign had come to an end. He would face continual crisis until just before his death when he name Solomon King in the midst of an uprising from his next oldest son.
It seems that there are those who focus on gaining a following, to gain power. They feel position and leadership is viewed as what you get more than what you give. Absalom, made people believe he was interested in them, but it was a ploy to overthrow his father’s reign. Those like Absalom, focus on taking away from others. They tear others down to build themselves up. They create false impressions and are good at feeding into discontent.
It is one thing when it happens by “an enemy” but when it comes from a son or a friend the pain is that much greater. Perhaps that is why Solomon would observe, “Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6 ESV)
These actions can be observed in business, politics and the church. Perhaps it is not without significance that Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples and His own people (the Jews) were the ones who demanded His death. “If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.” (Zechariah 13:6 NIV)
One who expects to have loyalty, must be loyal. When involved in leadership the important concept is, “disagree in private, be united in public.” That has been my commitment to those that I have served with in positions of leadership from the church house to the state house. It doesn’t mean others will always respond in kind, but we are only responsible for our own actions and attitudes.
We need to be aware of the “spirit of Absalom in our world today.” Absalom sought to make a new for himself, but in the end, it wasn’t the name that he sought.