July 15, 2002
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for July 28
Unbridled ambition can cause irreparable harm
___ 2 Samuel 15:5-14
___By Roy Cotton
___BGCT DFW/Metroplex Church Starting Center Consultant
___Absalom was received back into Israel (14:23); however, he was not permitted to come into the presence of the king for two years (14:28). When he was granted permission to see the king, he bowed in humble submission "with his face to the ground before the king" and David received him with a kiss (14:33).
___However, bitterness coupled with ambition and pride began building up in Absalom for the next four years. The succeeding chapters (15-19) on the downward spiral of Absalom's life are proof-positive of the truth that "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
___Unbridled ambition can lead to evil and disorder. The writer encourages us to be on guard and aware of unbridled ambition, arrogance and pride. Absalom never set his affection on things of God but only on his self-serving ambition. Perhaps he was so stuck on himself that he lost sight of the things that really mattered.
___The Bible describes Absalom as a man "highly praised for his handsome appearance. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him" (14:25).
___When I was growing up I heard people say, "Beauty is as beauty does." My mother used to say, "God doesn't like ugly, and he's not crazy about pretty."
___Unbridled ambition's methods
___Observe Absalom's methods for stealing the hearts of the people of Israel. Over the course of four years, he "provided himself with a chariot and horses and with 50 men to run ahead of him" (v. 1). This man began doing things in such a way as to give the appearance that he had political power. Having 50 men to run ahead of his chariot and horses was meant to call attention to the fact that he had the executive responsibility as though he were king.
___He did not stop at that. Absalom would "get up early and stand by the side of the road" (v. 2). This was indicative of his lofty ambitions to intercept people who were going to the king for judicial decisions. He began to create a false sense of injustice on the part of his father, King David.
___Absalom would call out to the men asking their place of residency. Then he would undermine David's authority by telling them they had a valid case and should be vindicated, if only there were a "representative of the king to hear you" (v. 3). It was not long before the people started believing that if Absalom "were appointed judge in the land, then everyone with a complaint or case" would receive justice (v. 4).
___The height of his deceptive methods was his hypocritical humility. Absalom was the crown prince whom the people believed was in line of royal succession. Therefore it was appropriate for them to bow down to him whenever they came in his presence. However, Absalom had ulterior motives. He would stop the people in midair as they were genuflecting. He would even kiss them to give the impression that he sincerely cared about them until "he stole the hearts of the men of Israel" (v. 6).
___Unbridled ambition's actions
___By the end of four years, Absalom had planted enough doubt in the minds of the people and usurped enough influence away from the king, that he was ready to implement his last move before the insurrection. Particular observation should be given to the fact that the writer of 2 Samuel consistently refers to David as "the king" throughout this chapter. It could be that it was particularly important to remember David was king according to divine plan.
___Absalom deceived his father in to granting permission for him to go to Hebron to fulfill a vow he had made to the Lord while "living at Geshur in Aram" (vv. 8-9). David did not question his sincerity or his motives. It would have been rare for one to wait four years or more to fulfill a vow. The law required Israelites to fulfill vows quickly (Deuteronomy 23:21).
___David never inquired why Absalom would choose Hebron as the place of fulfilling the vow. Perhaps he guessed it was chosen because it was the birthplace of Absalom (3:2-3). But Absalom's motivation was based on deviance. He perhaps chose Hebron as an insult to David, because it was the place were David was made king (2:3-4).
___Unbridled ambition's results
___Absalom was completely out of control. He stole the hearts of the people and convinced 200 men, innocent of his deceptive intentions, to go along with him. His plan was to do all the harm he could to the king. This was carried out by his acquisition of the king's counselor, Ahithophel. Being the grandfather of Bathsheba, Ahithophel had a score to settle with David for the adulterous affair and murder of Uriah.
___As soon as David received word the people were with Absalom, he knew he and his followers had to flee the city. He knew Absalom was out of control and would stop at nothing in his ambitious actions. The thought that the whole city would be "put to the sword" shows David had the best interests of the people in his decision to evacuate Jerusalem.
___Questions for discussion
___ Discuss ambition from a biblical perspective. Is it wrong to have ambition? Does the New Testament refer to the irreparable damage of unbridled ambition?
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