How To Steal the Hearts of People - A Devil's Guide
We find in 2 Samuel 15 a step-by-step guide to a political revolution in a nation. Consider the effectiveness of Absalom's plan who turns God's people away from the greatest king they ever had: King David.
We should note Absalom is a murderer. For this, he became an exile. Now he's going to work to undercut the nation led by King David. We should also understand that his story points to THE story, OUR story. The church has an enemy - satan himself - a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44) - who seeks to mislead and deceive Christians away from their great King, Jesus.
2 Samuel 15:2 (ESV) And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”
First, Absalom's commitment to his cause is firm. The text notes he "rises early." I think we forget that Satan is committed so much to the deception of the saints he is often awake and active well before we rise. This also shows the importance of early morning time with the Lord. For the moment of deception can start for us in the shower, over the morning coffee or our ride to work.
Second, the text notes how Absalom plays on the people's sense of injustice - even creating it. If you want to lead a mass revolution - talk about how "unfair" things are. Eventually, everyone is angry and discontented because we can all find a reason to complain if given time.
Nationally speaking, Absalom's rebellion happens through the justice system in Israel. The people can't get to the king so Absalom takes their case and elicits their affections by "feeling their pain."
2 Samuel 15:4 (ESV) Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
Today, America is experiencing this very same deception. Everyone loves to play the victim. Consequently, people have become so delicate that the smallest offense seems like major injustice to them. We have become a nation of complainers considering every off-putting remark or even someone's PERSONAL belief system to be systemic injustice against us. These are the marks of the end for any civilization. You cannot have community without unity. And unity, contrary to popular opinion, is not born from celebrating our differences, but rather in finding ways to support and help OTHERS. When everyone is constantly thinking of what "they deserve" or "who they are" no one is in the business of helping each other.
This is also the devil's strategy for the Christian. He makes you think you are a victim. He elevates ordinary needs into major injustices. Then he finds someone for you to blame. Notice Absalom makes David the people's problem. He fools them into thinking the King does not care. What a similar deception of Satan toward us - trying to get our hearts to turn on God who provides every good and perfect gift (See James 1:17).
2 Samuel 15:5 (ESV) And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
Absalom was a smooth politician. Not only "feeling the pain" of the people, but loving them like a father. Incredibly, it worked:
2 Samuel 15:6 (ESV) Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
The Proverb speaks of being wary of an enemy's kisses.
Proverbs 27:6 (ESV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
The seductive tactic of adoration causes us to put our guard down. Satan loves to play on our own self-love. This deception is especially dangerous as self-love comes pre-programmed in our hearts.
The ease of which Absalom turns so many from King David is astonishing but also begs us to see the human condition on display. What do people need desperately? They need to be noticed and loved. This is what Absalom did and it gained their hearts.
Next, when Absalom seeks to inaugurate his rebellion, he does so in manipulative spiritual terms:
2 Samuel 15:7–8 (ESV) And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’ ”
If you want to keep your guard up for fake leaders - watch for signs of religious piety that seem staged and disingenuous. No state leader is more seductive to the hearts of the people than a religious state leader. Satan also forms a false version of Christianity with wolves posing as shepherds.
2 Samuel 15:9–10 (ESV) The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’ ”
The final stage of Absalom's rebellion is through projecting the image of popularity. Notice how Absalom sneakily appoints people to declare him king at the same time. This is carefully planned staging of a nothing-burger kingship to make it seem larger than it is. We will see many more people are still with David. But the over-production is strong enough to dissuade even the king.
The noise of Satan's kingdom is loud and unified. Christians today may fall victim to the image of being outnumbered, outdated, or out of touch. Therefore, they may feel especially tempted to give up their standards and compromise their values. After all, fitting in is much easier.
We are taught here in 2 Samuel to NOT be deceived. Unlike David, our true David, Jesus Christ rules and reigns and is not caught unaware of the devil's schemes. Abide in Him, receive the Spirit that empowered Him and you won't be caught in the cultural sway of Satan's ship of fools.
We should note Absalom is a murderer. For this, he became an exile. Now he's going to work to undercut the nation led by King David. We should also understand that his story points to THE story, OUR story. The church has an enemy - satan himself - a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44) - who seeks to mislead and deceive Christians away from their great King, Jesus.
2 Samuel 15:2 (ESV) And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”
First, Absalom's commitment to his cause is firm. The text notes he "rises early." I think we forget that Satan is committed so much to the deception of the saints he is often awake and active well before we rise. This also shows the importance of early morning time with the Lord. For the moment of deception can start for us in the shower, over the morning coffee or our ride to work.
Second, the text notes how Absalom plays on the people's sense of injustice - even creating it. If you want to lead a mass revolution - talk about how "unfair" things are. Eventually, everyone is angry and discontented because we can all find a reason to complain if given time.
Nationally speaking, Absalom's rebellion happens through the justice system in Israel. The people can't get to the king so Absalom takes their case and elicits their affections by "feeling their pain."
2 Samuel 15:4 (ESV) Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
Today, America is experiencing this very same deception. Everyone loves to play the victim. Consequently, people have become so delicate that the smallest offense seems like major injustice to them. We have become a nation of complainers considering every off-putting remark or even someone's PERSONAL belief system to be systemic injustice against us. These are the marks of the end for any civilization. You cannot have community without unity. And unity, contrary to popular opinion, is not born from celebrating our differences, but rather in finding ways to support and help OTHERS. When everyone is constantly thinking of what "they deserve" or "who they are" no one is in the business of helping each other.
This is also the devil's strategy for the Christian. He makes you think you are a victim. He elevates ordinary needs into major injustices. Then he finds someone for you to blame. Notice Absalom makes David the people's problem. He fools them into thinking the King does not care. What a similar deception of Satan toward us - trying to get our hearts to turn on God who provides every good and perfect gift (See James 1:17).
2 Samuel 15:5 (ESV) And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
Absalom was a smooth politician. Not only "feeling the pain" of the people, but loving them like a father. Incredibly, it worked:
2 Samuel 15:6 (ESV) Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
The Proverb speaks of being wary of an enemy's kisses.
Proverbs 27:6 (ESV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
The seductive tactic of adoration causes us to put our guard down. Satan loves to play on our own self-love. This deception is especially dangerous as self-love comes pre-programmed in our hearts.
The ease of which Absalom turns so many from King David is astonishing but also begs us to see the human condition on display. What do people need desperately? They need to be noticed and loved. This is what Absalom did and it gained their hearts.
Next, when Absalom seeks to inaugurate his rebellion, he does so in manipulative spiritual terms:
2 Samuel 15:7–8 (ESV) And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’ ”
If you want to keep your guard up for fake leaders - watch for signs of religious piety that seem staged and disingenuous. No state leader is more seductive to the hearts of the people than a religious state leader. Satan also forms a false version of Christianity with wolves posing as shepherds.
2 Samuel 15:9–10 (ESV) The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’ ”
The noise of Satan's kingdom is loud and unified. Christians today may fall victim to the image of being outnumbered, outdated, or out of touch. Therefore, they may feel especially tempted to give up their standards and compromise their values. After all, fitting in is much easier.
We are taught here in 2 Samuel to NOT be deceived. Unlike David, our true David, Jesus Christ rules and reigns and is not caught unaware of the devil's schemes. Abide in Him, receive the Spirit that empowered Him and you won't be caught in the cultural sway of Satan's ship of fools.
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