2 Samuel 15:5-12 – The Conspiracy Grows Strong
The final string to Absalom’s bow in v5 is to pretend to be a man of the people. Whenever someone comes near to him to pay homage, to bow down before him perhaps, Absalom instead reaches out and hugs and kisses him. He doesn’t have any airs or graces. It’s easy for Absalom to do. He doesn’t have any other responsibilities keeping him busy. In v7, after years of preparation he finally makes his move. He lies to his father. He says that he’s vowed a vow to the LORD. So he not only breaks the ninth commandment by lying. But he breaks the 3rd commandment by taking God’s name in vain. David gives him his blessing and Absalom goes to Hebron, the place where David had been anointed king. The end of v12 is ominous: ‘The conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing’.
Don’t we feel like that in our own day? The conspiracy has grown strong. Those seeking to push a humanistic, secular, anti-God agenda are on the rise. People are taken in by it, and the people with the enemy keep increasing. It looks grim for David in 2nd Samuel 15. And in many ways it looks grim for us in Europe and America at the minute. It’s important to remember that that isn’t the case everywhere. If our assessment of the state of the Christian church is one of doom and gloom, it’s probably because we’re not looking at the worldwide picture. But certainly in our own country and in many others it looks like the conspiracy is growing strong, and the people with the enemy keep increasing. Yet who is Absalom? He’s a pretender. He’s not the rightful king. Sooner or later, the true king will come back. How do we know? Because God had made a promise to David that his kingdom would never end. It’s the same with Jesus’ kingdom. It might look like it’s in trouble. But he is the true king. One day soon all pretenders to his throne will have to acknowledge that. In the meantime, God in his grace gives us enough hope and enough encouragement to keep going. This chapter ends by telling us that Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. Absalom entering Jerusalem is bad. But just in the nick of time, David’s friend has got there first so that he can be in prime position to help David (a fact to which Absalom is oblivious). It’s not a significant verse in many ways. But it’s just enough to encourage us that all is not lost. It often looks bleak for Messiah’s kingdom. But for those who have eyes to see, there are enough encouragements to keep us going.
Question
- What is Absalom’s strategy?
Prayer Points
- Pray that the nations would acknowledge the kingship of Christ.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.