How does Absalom's monument reflect his character and priorities? Setting the Scene • 2 Samuel 18:18: “During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself, for he said, ‘I have no son to preserve my name in remembrance.’ He called the pillar after his own name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.” What the Monument Tells Us About Absalom • Self-promotion over God-promotion – “He called the pillar after his own name.” – Like Saul, who “set up a monument for himself” (1 Samuel 15:12), Absalom cared more about personal fame than God’s glory. • Image and appearance – 2 Samuel 14:25: “In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom.” – His monument extends the obsession with outward impression beyond life. • Legacy at any cost – Though 2 Samuel 14:27 mentions three sons, 18:18 notes “I have no son.” Whether the sons died young or were otherwise gone, Absalom would not entrust remembrance to God’s providence; he manufactured it. • Pride unchecked – Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction.” – The stone commemorated pride; the forest of Ephraim soon swallowed the proud (2 Samuel 18:9-15). Contrasts in Scripture • Absalom’s approach: “Let us make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4, Tower of Babel). • God’s approach: “I will make your name great” (Genesis 12:2, promise to Abram). • David, Absalom’s father, built altars to honor the LORD (2 Samuel 24:25), not pillars to honor himself. Heart Issues Revealed • Trust in self, not in God’s covenant promises. • Value placed on personal glory above filial obedience (2 Samuel 15:1-6 shows him stealing hearts from his father). • Temporal focus—stone in the Kidron over eternal heritage with the LORD. Lessons for Today • A monument to self cannot secure the future; only walking humbly with God does (Micah 6:8). • Outward beauty and charisma fade; inward submission to God endures (1 Peter 3:4). • Pursuing God’s honor leads to lasting remembrance: “The memory of the righteous is a blessing” (Proverbs 10:7). |
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