What can we learn about loyalty from Absalom's behavior in 2 Samuel 15:6? Zooming In on the Drama “Absalom acted this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king for justice, so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 15:6) What’s Really Happening? • Absalom meets citizens on the road before they reach King David. • He flatters them, promises swift justice, and subtly undermines David’s leadership. • The text says he “stole” their hearts—loyalty is taken, not freely inspired. Loyalty Lessons from Absalom’s Tactics • Loyalty can be won or lost at the gates of everyday life, not just in palace halls. • Flattery masks rebellion. Proverbs 29:5 warns, “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.” • Undermining God-appointed authority is spiritual treason (Romans 13:1–2). • Self-promotion breeds division. James 3:16: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder.” Guarding Our Own Hearts • Test motives—ours and others’. Ask: Does this counsel draw me closer to God’s order or away from it? • Value truth over charisma. Compare every promise to Scripture (Acts 17:11). • Stay rooted in covenant relationships: marriage, church, community. Disloyal whispers erode them. • Remember loyalty’s cost. Jonathan stayed faithful to David even when it risked his life (1 Samuel 20). Practical Takeaways • Speak well of God-given leaders unless sin demands gracious rebuke (Ephesians 4:29). • Refuse to traffic in gossip; it’s Absalom’s currency. • Cultivate transparency—hidden agendas breed betrayal. • Anchor identity in Christ, eliminating the need to “steal” hearts for self-glory (Colossians 3:3–4). The Bottom Line Absalom shows that disloyalty starts with a smile and ends with a schism. Genuine loyalty celebrates God’s order, speaks truth, and seeks the good of others before self. |
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