How does 2 Samuel 15:2 relate to the commandment against coveting? Setting the Scene: Absalom at the Gate “Absalom would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to present before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, ‘What is your case that brings you to the king?’ And he would answer, ‘Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.’” (2 Samuel 15:2) The Tenth Commandment Restated “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house…or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17; cf. Deuteronomy 5:21) Connecting the Dots: How Coveting Drives Absalom’s Scheme • Coveting is more than desire; it is desire that crosses a line into longing for what God has given to someone else. • Absalom is not content with being a prince; he craves the throne, the authority, and the loyalty that rightly belong to King David. • His early-morning presence at the gate is a calculated move to steal hearts (2 Samuel 15:6). This is coveting in action—grasping for another’s office and honor. • By presenting himself as the people’s advocate, he subtly undermines David’s God-ordained role. Coveting breeds manipulation, flattery, and deceit. A Chain Reaction Unfolds 1. Coveting (hidden desire) 2. Manipulation (standing at the gate, intercepting cases) 3. Theft of loyalty (winning the people’s hearts) 4. Rebellion (open coup against David) James 1:14-15: “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own desires. Then desire, having conceived, gives birth to sin…” Scriptural Echoes • Proverbs 14:30: “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” • Luke 12:15: “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” • 1 Timothy 6:9: “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires…” Lessons for Today • Check desires early; coveting often hides under the cloak of “ambition” or “justice.” • Respect God-given roles and boundaries; grasping for another’s position invites disorder. • True contentment rests in trusting God’s timing and provision (Philippians 4:11-13). Absalom’s posture at the gate is a living illustration of the Tenth Commandment violated: coveting leads to schemes that unravel families, nations, and hearts. |
    |