Apparently 2024 is the year where the most number of people in history will vote, with many elections scheduled across the world. That means an almost as large number of politicians pretending to be “one of the people”, shaking hands, kissing babies, and announcing simplistic solutions to difficult problems. Hopefully, when the votes are counted, the (ideally) free and fairly elected rulers are respected, rather than rebelled against.
There is plenty of the political touch in 2 Samuel 15, as Absalom begins a political schmoozing campaign to claim power. Not by free and fair elections though. By rebellion against God’s anointed king. While I am certainly not suggesting all politicians are evil, Absalom’s political manoeuvres and evil end goals remind us that sin and rebellion are often subtle and seductive, leading us away from the green pastures of fellowship with God and his anointed one, Jesus.
In chapter 14 we saw the return of Absalom from exile, and the return of Absalom into official public approval (whatever David may have personally thought about his son murdering son). The passage also pointed out to us that Absalom was an appealing and attractive man with an attractive family, who appealed to the ladies and the men alike. The sort of potential candidate that political operatives look for to sell their agenda.
Except Absalom appeared to be his own political operative. And Absalom was on the move.
To show he was a man of substance and note, Absalom “got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him” (v.1) to improve his image. It was important to look like a man who was important.
The next step in the campaign was to attract the voters. Absalom would rise early like a common worker “and stand beside the way of the gate” (v.2). Essentially, like standing outside the court today. There he would engage with any traveller from Israel bringing a legal case to the king, with his concerned-frowny face and nod as the concerned party told their tale of woe (vv.2-3).
Having conveyed his supposed empathy with the claimant, he would sigh theatrically and bemoan the terrible injustice despite the rightness of their cause when there was nobody to hear and decide the case (ie, the king, v.3). Why if only Absalom were appointed a judge in the land, he would get the wheels of justice moving! (v.4)
Of course, while Absalom was a high-born fellow, he was also a man of the people. When the commoner would start to bow and scrape as appropriate to their better, Absalom would “would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him” (v.5), identifying himself as their equal. Great or small, near or far, the same treatment (v.6).
What a man of the people! No wonder he “stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (v.6) compared to that old, out of touch King David. Time for a change?
After four years of this, Absalom contrived an excuse to get away from Jerusalem to Hebron, mixing in a little fake religious conviction about fulfilling vows and worshipping God (vv.7-9). Like Saul and Israel before him, Absalom was happy to use religion to get what he wanted.
But Hebron was not the destination for religious worship. It was the destination for rebellion! Where better to start than where David’s reign as Israel’s king had started. Messengers were sent throughout the land to warn them of the upcoming announcement of a new king (v.10), while innocent invited guests came along to unknowingly lend an air of officiality (v.11). Finally, Absalom called to himself Ahithophel, David’s adviser, to ease the succession (v.12).
Everything was proceeding as Absalom had foreseen. A plan for evil and rebellion against God’s anointed ruler. A plan which fulfilled God’s very words of warning and judgement from 12:10-12, God’s own foreseeing and foreordaining. Yet Absalom is responsible for his sin, not God.
Absalom’s subtle moves show us the way in which sin and rebellion against God foments and simmers. In our own lives, in the world, and sadly, in the church.
Absalom’s seductive words of compassion and “if only” sound a little like the Devil’s tempting words in the garden. Questioning David’s (God’s) goodness, suggesting things would be better if someone else was in charge. And then, the rebellion.
So too in our lives. We question God’s goodness to ourselves, and wish that we were in charge. Then we could rule as we wish! Then we are in rebellion.
And this too in the world and the church. Questioning the goodness of the Law of Christ, and the Reign of Christ. Questioning the goodness of the Anointed One. A few slight suggestions for change to please everyone, and get people back in the sanctuary doors. Rebellion.
All this fulfils God’s decrees, but we will be held accountable for rebelling against God’s anointed one, Jesus. Who, unlike David, did not sin but instead sacrificed himself as one of us, that we might be one with him.
