2 Samuel 15:1-6: a reflection

1After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him. 2Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.” 4Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!” 5It was so, that when any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him. 6Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

As Absalom sets out to undermine his father David and seize the throne, he does not do it openly but by flattery and false promises. He rises early to stand by the gate, and to everyone coming for the king's judgment he says their cause is good and right, but there is no one to hear them, and, Oh that I were made judge, that I would do him justice! He flatters each one, embraces them, promises the justice they long for. And so, the text says, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. By flattery and empty promises, playing on people's desires and grievances, he won their loyalty away from the king.

Notice Absalom's method: flattery and empty promises that stole hearts. He did not win people by truth or genuine service, but by telling them what they wanted to hear, flattering their causes, embracing them, promising the justice he had no intention or authority to deliver. He played on their grievances and desires, and by this manipulation stole their hearts away from David. His charm was a tool of manipulation, his promises empty, his flattery a means to his own ambition. And it worked; people were taken in, their loyalty won by one who flattered and promised but did not truly care for them. The stolen hearts were won by manipulation, not truth.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can be taken in by flattery and empty promises, and should be wary of them. There are those who, like Absalom, win people by flattery and false promises, telling them what they want to hear, playing on their grievances and desires, to serve their own ambition; and we can be taken in, our loyalty stolen by charm and empty promises rather than won by truth. Flattery and false promises are tools of manipulation to be wary of. Do not be taken in by flattery and empty promises that play on your desires and grievances; be wary of those who would steal your heart by charm rather than win it by truth, as Absalom stole the hearts of Israel. Be wary of flattery and empty promises that would steal your heart by manipulation rather than win it by truth, as Absalom flattered the people and promised them justice to steal their hearts from David; for charm and empty promises are often tools of ambition, and we do well to look for truth and genuine care rather than being taken in by those who tell us only what we want to hear.

Lord, as Absalom sets out to undermine his father David and seize the throne, he does not do it openly but by flattery and false promises. He rises early to stand by the gate, and to everyone coming for the king's judgment he says their cause is good and right, but there is no one to hear them, and, oh that I were made judge, that I would do him justice! He flatters each one, embraces them, promises the justice they long for. And so, the text says, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. By flattery and empty promises, he won their loyalty away from the king. Show me Absalom's method: flattery and empty promises that stole hearts. He did not win people by truth or genuine service, but by telling them what they wanted to hear, flattering their causes, promising the justice he had no intention or authority to deliver. He played on their grievances and desires, and by this manipulation stole their hearts. His charm was a tool of manipulation, his promises empty. And it worked; people were taken in, their loyalty won by one who flattered but did not truly care for them. Take that to my heart, for I can be taken in by flattery and empty promises, and should be wary of them. There are those who, like Absalom, win people by flattery and false promises, telling them what they want to hear, to serve their own ambition; and I can be taken in, my loyalty stolen by charm rather than won by truth. Keep me from being taken in by flattery and empty promises that play on my desires and grievances; help me be wary of those who would steal my heart by charm rather than win it by truth, Lord, as Absalom stole the hearts of Israel, and help me look for truth and genuine care.