The Strategy of the Enemy (2 Sam. 15)

The Strategy of the Enemy: The Rebellion of Absalom

2 Sam. 14:25-15:6

The conspiracy of Absalom against his father David depicts the worldwide effort by Satan and his followers to usurp the authority of the Lord Jesus, the true and rightful king.

1.       The Attraction of Absalom - striking in his appearance.      (2 Sam. 14:25-26)

Absalom was noted in Scripture as being praised for his good looks. (14.25) It was this feature that he used to his advantage in gaining the hearts of the people to rebel against his father, David. Ezek. 28 speaks of Satan before his fall as beautiful and perfect, until iniquity was found in him. The grotesque caricature of the devil is far from accurate, he is more the cunning serpent whose outward beauty and attraction calls attention to his “message”.

2.    The Approach of Absalom – showy in his actions. (15.1)

Absalom’s approach was calculated with the pretense of authority as he evidenced in the Garden when he challenged God’s word to Eve. He boldly approached on horses with the pretense of authority, though he was only a prince. Satan is the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2), the god of this world (2 Cor. 4.4) who also approaches men and women with a message to undermine the true and rightful king. His is an arrogant “I will” approach (Isa. 14, cp. the brash false prophet Zedekiah - 1 Kings 22).

3.   The Appeal of Absalom – smooth in his affirmation. (15:2-5)

Absalom approached the gates of Jerusalem early in the day to talk to embittered people to win them to himself. Satan approaches men and women early in life, early in a trial, and in crisis situations, appealing to their base nature especially when conditions make them particularly vulnerable. He is “on the job” at an early hour to deflect the loyalties of those who should give honor to the true King.   He will make promises, as did Absalom to win hearts, though the end result of following him is always hidden. He will “kiss” him with a deceitful kiss in exchange for a favor—the very thing that Satan offered the Lord in the wilderness temptation.

Not only is he smooth in his affirmation, but also, he is scornful in his attitude undermining authority and causing doubt as to the goodness and kindness of the Lord. “Yea, hath God said…?”   (Gen. 3:1) False prophets in the last days are characterized by the same presumption and self-will – not afraid to speak evil against dignities. (2 Peter 2:10)

4.   The Aftermath of Absalom – successful in his attempt (v. 6)

He drew multitudes away from David. Satan was able to draw a third of the stars away in his fall and multitudes that follow his deceitful program and system today. (Rev. 12:4) They are as we were “guided by His artful treachery hurrying on to endless pain”.  The events triggered by Absalom against his father resulted in his father having to leave Jerusalem in rejection.   Not everyone was fooled by Absalom’s lies – many stayed true to the king as did Ittai who identified with the king in his rejection. Crossing over the Brook Kidron, (15.23) they left the city weeping as they went.   Centuries later disciples of Christ traveled that same path identifying with the true and rightful King in His rejection. (John 18.1)                                                                   Mark Kolchin 4/26/03

Questions to ask:

1.       Who can we warn about the system of rebellion that Satan has artfully crafted in this world system?

2.       Are we guilty of giving ear to the lies of the devil even though we are followers of the King?