Lessons from David & Absalom: dealing with conspirators, haters and conflict.

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, [even] from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. (2 Samuel 15:12)

 

This week I’ve been meditating on the conspiracy of Absalom against his father David as recorded in 2 Samuel 15 & 16. The events within these chapters are powerful and God has opened my eyes to so much revelation within this passage of scripture.

 

 

The things that I saw within the events are as follows: –

 

Don’t strike back, let God fight your battle fo you.

 

David didn’t fight back. Instead of playing defence he rallied his family, bodyguards and assistants and left Jerusalem to go into hiding. By not fighting back David was able to save lives, avoid civil war and most importantly he allowed God to fight the battle for him.

 

Keep worship going, don’t cut of praise due to God.

 

Zadok and a company of priests and levites left with David carrying the Ark of the Covenant with them. The Ark represented the presence and also the government of God. It was the centrepiece of Israel’s life and worship. The Ark leaving symbolised God Himself leaving Jerusalem. Without it sacrifice would be in vain. Rather than remove the Ark, David sent the priests back with the ark in the faith that if God was for him, he would come back to Jerusalem. This taught me that you shouldn’t stop praising God just because someone is against you. Neither should you do things to cut off other peoples ability to worship God.

 

Its not your title, its your anointing that counts!

 

The conspirators called Absalom king. The moment David left, he also called Absalom king. Why? David was not worried about his title. He knew that Samuel anointed him from a youth, he knew that God kept him against Goliath, God promoted him over Saul and God would certainly bring him back to his rightful office. It teaches that you may lose your title or office but as long as you keep your anointing you are alright. So many people are caught up with what they are called. But it is who you are that really counts.

 

God hears intercession in times of crisis.

 

As David fled into the wilderness he had to climb the mount of Olives. At the foot of the Mt he begins to ask God to turn the council of Ahitophel into foolishness. By the time David reached the top of the Mt God had sent him a helper to answer his prayer and confound the council of Ahitophel. God really does hear when His children call out to Him in need. Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened!

 

In times of trouble remember the magna carta of the Christian faith!

 

The beatitudes (or beautiful attitudes) as taught by Jesus on the Mt of Olives are the constitution of the Christian faith. David was actually on the Mt of Olives, place Jesus delivered the beatitudes, as he interceeded to God for help. It is interesting to note that David went up bare feet and with his head covered typifying humility, meekness and poorness of spirit. He also climbed the Mt as a peacemaker – seeking a non-violent resolution to the conspiracy against Him. God is so awsome, who would have thought David walked out the beatitudes approximately a 800 years before Christ!

 

Be a father to your enemy.

 

Although Absalom, David’s firstborn betrayed and humiliated him David always treated Absalom as a son. He never gave any of his men the order to kill Absalom, only to bring him back alive. We would do well to learn not to kill our enemies when we have the upper hand against them. Treat them as we would our own son, with mercy.