{"id":4002,"date":"2025-05-31T19:27:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T19:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/?p=4002"},"modified":"2025-05-31T19:27:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T19:27:23","slug":"lessons-from-bible-lives-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/31\/lessons-from-bible-lives-2\/","title":{"rendered":"LESSONS FROM BIBLE LIVES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ABSALOM \u2013 ANOTHER TRAGIC VICTIM OF SIN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCRIPTURE: 2 Sam 13-2 Sam 19:8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION: <\/strong>The name Absalom means \u201cfather of peace.\u201d If David gave his son this name, it turned out to be wishful thinking! He was the third son of David by his wife Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur, thus born of a polygamous marriage. Absalom\u2019s story is most fascinating, and we are spellbound as the main events of his adult life unfold. [It reads somewhat like a western novel, but it doesn\u2019t tum out well at all for the main character!] Absalom\u2019s weak character and unusual beauty pull him along in the wrong direction until Satan sets a trap for him from which there seemed to be no escape. The final result was his destruction. Let us consider some factors that shaped his life and destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. HE WAS OF ROYAL DESCENT<\/strong> Both parents were royalty. His mother, Maacah, was the daughter of the king of Geshur, and thus, a gentile. Although David\u2019s third son (2 Sam 3:2-3) Absalom was the idol of his father and seems to have been heir to the throne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. HE POSSESSED REMARKABLE PHYSICAL BEAUTY<\/strong> \u2013 2 Sam 14:25 Absalom was a striking person with poise, natural dignity, and a commanding presence, as well as sheer good looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. HE WAS CHARMING AND PERSUASIVE <\/strong>Absalom was not only good looking, he was \u201cMr. Personality.\u201d [He was probably the outstanding member of Toastmasters of Jerusalem and had completed Dale Carnegie\u2019s \u201cHow to Win Friends and Influence People\u201d with honors!] When he \u201cturned on the charm,\u201d (2 Sam 15: 1-6) he literally stole the hearts of the men of Israel away from their great and godly warrior-king!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. BUT \u2013 HEW AS TRAITOROUS<\/strong> Absalom had his own brother murdered (2 Sam 13:29) and conspired to take the kingdom from his father by force. Had he been successful, it would have resulted in his father\u2019s death, and it appears that he felt no qualms about this possibility! Absalom seems to be the kind of self-centered person who would step on, or destroy if necessary, anyone who stood between him and the things he wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. HE CAME TO AN UNTIMELY END<\/strong> \u2013 2 Sam 18:9-15 Absalom had everything in his favor, yet his life ended in a tragic way. In spite of all his beauty and natural gifts, plus being in line for the throne of Israel, he nevertheless wound up being buried like an animal in a pit in a deserted wood (18: 17). What a strong warning this sad story presents to parents, especially dads. Much of the blame for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absalom\u2019s tragic demise originated with David:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

o He obviously doted on this handsome son as he was growing up, and, therefore, failed to restrain him as he should have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

o David failed to develop character in Absalom. Character is instilled by the process of training commanded in Pro 22:6. When the child has been thoroughly and consistently trained, character manifests itself in the automatic doing of right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

o David set a poor example for Absalom (and all of his children) in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah. The tragic consequences of David\u2019s sin in the lives of his children should be ample warning to Christian parents about their need to live clean, godly lives at all times. The worst feature in the \u201cboomerang\u201d of sin is its repercussions in the lives of our children! (For example \u2013 Lot and Elimelech)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. ABSALOM\u2019S FATAL WEAKNESSES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

o His egotism<\/strong> \u2013 Absalom was totally taken up with self. He had no thought, no feeling, no pity for anyone but himself. He only used those around him to obtain his own selfish goals. But in trying to use his life for himself, he lost it! (See Mark 8:34-37.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

o His godlessness<\/strong> \u2013 This poor, self-centered creature seems to have had no God- consciousness or reverence for God, and thus no religious faith. Consequently, he had no principles or personal restraint in his relationships with others. He was his own master, and his own will was his only law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONCLUSION:<\/strong> We may properly blame David for his obvious failures with some of his sons, and David will certainly have to give account to God for those failures. However, as far as Absalom is concerned, he has no excuse for his lack of character. The Bible says very clearly, \u201cSo then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.\u201d (Rom 14:12) Unfortunately, we have a society that is afflicted with this \u201cvictim\u201d mentality\u2013that is, whatever happens or whatever a person does, it\u2019s someone else\u2019s fault. For example, \u201cI started robbing people because my daddy didn\u2019t take me to ballgames when I was a kid.\u201d Or, \u201cI became a prostitute because my mother ran off with another man when I was a baby.\u201d This is wicked nonsense! David will answer to God for why he was not a better person, but Absalom will answer to God for why he didn\u2019t get some character!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LESSONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Character is much to be preferred over talent, brains, beauty, or any combination thereof!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. One\u2019s chief glory and cherished gift can become his downfall. Whatever gifts we may possess need to be guarded and sanctified every day by prayer.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"