What steps can we take to ensure our judgments align with God's truth? Setting the Scene—2 Samuel 15:3 “Absalom would say to him, ‘Look, your case is good and right, but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.’” Absalom pretended to care about justice, yet his real goal was to steal hearts and power. His smooth words reveal how easily judgment can drift from God’s standard to human manipulation. Recognizing the Drift • Flattery replaces facts. • Feelings outweigh truth. • Personal gain outranks God’s glory. When those three currents pull us, our decisions start looking more like Absalom’s schemes than the King’s righteous rule. Steps to Keep Our Judgments Aligned with God’s Truth 1. Fix your starting point in Scripture • “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.” (Psalm 19:7) • “All Scripture is God-breathed…so that the man of God may be complete.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) If the Word sets the plumb line, crooked judgments become obvious. 2. Pray for wisdom before you weigh a matter • “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.” (James 1:5) • Genuine prayer moves us from knee-jerk opinion to Spirit-led discernment. 3. Examine your motives and resist flattery • “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:6) • Absalom’s kisses blinded many. Ask: Am I seeking approval or God’s pleasure? (Galatians 1:10) 4. Hear both sides fully • “The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17) Listening guards against snap judgments and partiality. 5. Judge impartially, fearing God more than people • “Do not show partiality in judgment; hear both small and great alike.” (Deuteronomy 1:17) • “Stop judging by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) 6. Seek godly counsel • “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) The collective wisdom of mature believers exposes blind spots. 7. Depend on the Holy Spirit’s illumination • “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) • Human insight is finite; the Spirit searches the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). 8. Walk in humility and accountability • “He has shown you, O man, what is good…to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.” (Micah 6:8) A humble heart stays teachable and correctable. The Harvest of Righteous Judgments • Peace replaces conflict (James 3:18). • Communities feel secure and valued (Isaiah 32:17). • God’s name is honored as the ultimate Judge (Psalm 75:7). Aligning our judgments with God’s truth isn’t complicated, but it is continual. Keep Scripture open, prayer active, motives pure, ears attentive, and hearts humble, and Absalom’s sway loses its power. |
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