Monday 11th November
Read 2 Samuel 15:1-6
“In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, ‘What town are you from?’ He would answer, ‘Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.’ 3 Then Absalom would say to him, ‘Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.’ 4 And Absalom would add, ‘If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.’ 5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom behaved in this way towards all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.” (NIVUK)
We jump ahead to what may be the darkest time of David’s reign – Absalom’s coup. Absalom is a patient man. He waited two years to revenge himself upon Amnon, three years before returning to Jerusalem and two years waiting for an audience with David! All the while he was plotting the overthrow of his father the king. He is also shrewd, or perhaps still has shrewd counsellors such as Jonadab, for his approach to the coup is almost modern.
He recognises that winning power is about presentation, promises and perception – and all of it is ultimately about deception. Absalom dresses the part and appears in regal guise (v1). Absalom makes promises he has no intention or ability to keep (v2-4). By making these promises he seeks to change the perception of the people and convince them that David has no time for them, is out of touch, and doesn’t care. It matters not whether David is actually ruling with justice, Absalom seeks to make people believe he isn’t. He meets with them, claims he hears them, and goes around doing the modern equivalent of kissing babies (v5). It is POPULISM 101 and sadly it remains effective to this day.
The author makes it clear what is going on when he observes that ‘he stole the hearts’ of the people (v6). He has deceived them and deceived David. Yet it was completely unnecessary. David had already invited him back and met with him – he was the crown prince. It would all eventually be his. But those who seek power almost invariably play by these rules.
“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” (Matthew 20:25-28) (NIVUK)
