Guest Post by Lenny Hall of Sons of Thunder Ministries
2 Samuel 15:1-12 (MSG)
15 1-2 As time went on, Absalom took to riding in a horse-drawn chariot, with fifty men running in front of him. Early each morning he would take up his post beside the road at the city gate. When anyone showed up with a case to bring to the king for a decision, Absalom would call him over and say, “Where do you hail from?”
And the answer would come, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”
3-6 Then Absalom would say, “Look, you’ve got a strong case; but the king isn’t going to listen to you.” Then he’d say, “Why doesn’t someone make me a judge for this country? Anybody with a case could bring it to me and I’d settle things fair and square.” Whenever someone would treat him with special honor, he’d shrug it off and treat him like an equal, making him feel important. Absalom did this to everyone who came to do business with the king and stole the hearts of everyone in Israel.
7-8 After four years of this, Absalom spoke to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to pay a vow that I made to God. Your servant made a vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram saying, ‘If God will bring me back to Jerusalem, I’ll serve him with my life.’”
9 The king said, “Go with my blessing.” And he got up and set off for Hebron.
10-12 Then Absalom sent undercover agents to all the tribes of Israel with the message, “When you hear the blast of the ram’s horn trumpet, that’s your signal: Shout, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’” Two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem. But they had been called together knowing nothing of the plot and made the trip innocently. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he managed also to involve Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s advisor, calling him away from his hometown of Giloh. The conspiracy grew powerful and Absalom’s supporters multiplied.
As we continue to grow and develop our true devoted relationship with Jesus in 2017, there are always obstacles. The scripture says that narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way. So as we determine to become the man God intends for us to be, we already know that it’s not going to be easy. But He also tells us that ALL things are possible through Him. So in review the gate is narrow but we can make it through, and if we rely on Him, the difficult path has a navigation tool as well. So guess what? If we say “Yes” to Jesus, we make it!!
We also need to be cunning, and innocent but those are topics for a later day. As we press in today I want to expose one of the enemies that will try to shut us down before we can enter the gate of our calling. He is a hindering gatekeeper that wants to turn you away, and make you feel good for leaving. His name is Absalom. In 2 Samuel 15, we see this man who hates King David. So he stands at the gate of the city and misleads, and deceives people who are trying to get to the King.
So here is the hard question, but it must be asked. What is keeping us from going through the gate? What is keeping us from going to the King? Is it the Absalom of drugs, alcohol, pornography, adultery? Or is it simply the Absalom of pride, unbelief, hatred, bitterness? Whatever this Absalom is in your life, Jesus is the King. So call on the name of the King, and He will remove any Absaloms in your life that are keeping you from getting to Him.
#MondayWordForMen
