Absalom

Absalom

2 Sameul 14:25”…Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised…”

When something is too good to be true then be careful! When the offer is too spectacular, opulent and enormous then be cautious, for instance, I got an email stating that I was selected as the ‘best author’ and also that ‘they’(I wonder who the panel was) would publish my book free of cost. All this was too juicy to be true, that was fake from a fake source, don’t believe the ‘AH-OH’ voices. Another letter came by mail stating that I was selected as the ‘Jewel of India’, imagine; however, towards the end there was a line which said, ‘deposit Rs.10,000/- as registration. For what? Do not fall for the enemy’s alluring and fraudulent messages!

Absalom was one of the sons of David, very handsome, clever, smart, bright, lovely hair but also CUNNING, not many knew the beast inside him. Whenever people came to see the king, he would divert their attention, kiss their hands and doing these things he stole away the hearts of the men of Israel. (2 Samuel 15:6,7) Did you see that? He connived against his own father, outside beauty is deceptive, caveat, those of you who go bonkers at the sight of beautiful women and handsome men here comes a warning for you, be careful. Don’t make decisions based on the cover of the book, are you listening? “He is sooooo good, She is a nice person, He seems to be a honest guy”, on what basis do you make such assumptions? During my teens, my mom would always warn me, ‘do not immediately trust strangers’, I thought she was exaggerating and being over protective, I didn’t get it then but later I got it.

Careful! When Absalom comes to his father seeking permission to go to Hebron to worship the Lord, ( 2 Samuel 15:7,8) David instantly told him, ‘go in peace’ not knowing that his own son was going to Hebron to attack and kill his father David. Learn to identify the devil! Apostle Paul said in Ephesians: 5:

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Did you read that?

However, the wicked are punished, read Ephesians 5:6”Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Despite all his smartness and shrewdness, he did not expect to meet the servants of David in the forest, for Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. Finally David’s commander Joab killed him and put him in a pit. 2 Sameul 18:9 – 14)

Let us look at the practical applications that we can draw from the above lesson:

1) Outward beauty is vain without spiritual maturity: Physical attraction, brings distraction which eventually leads you to destruction. We live in an era where beauty tips, health awareness and physical fitness occupies most of the space in social media, while it is not wrong to follow these things; however, when it becomes an obsession then it is dangerous. Proverbs 31:30”Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

2) Beware of deception: The Bible says: Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “ Do not believe people on face value, we got to look beyond that. We got to discern the motives of the heart before we proceed to make decisions.

3) Identify the evil spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:10”… to another is given the gift of discernment of spirits”

Gift of discernment of spirits! This is something that we should all pray for in order to deal with the world today. Muscle power, charm, money power, beauty, fame and popularity would be vain without wisdom from the Holy Spirit. Are you listening? Proverbs 18:15 says” The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”

As many know, besides my roles as preacher, teacher, writer, I am also a School Principal running a school for the poor called Abide School and also Abide Angel Home that shelters the abandoned kids. I would never be able to deal with my students, staff and the parents without the help of the Holy Spirit who gives me wisdom to discern their motives. Jesus said, “We got to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16) On a day-to-day basis I should be able to read between the lines, read their mind and understand the thoughts of the people I move with. Recently when a young girl in our school came to me with a big smile and loudly said ‘madam I found a two rupee coin and handed me over the money’, I found something deceptive in the voice. I later checked her bag and found a bundle of coins hidden in her bag, this was the leading of the Holy Spirit. Does this not remind us of Ananias and Sapphira who died the same day because they lied? Why did they die? Acts chapter 5 opens with the word ‘BUT’ which means it is a continuation of chapter 4 where the disciples sold their land and brought the entire money to the apostles. But Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself’ and lied that they were giving the entire amount. This was a daring lie inside the church, which Peter discerned with the leading of the Holy Spirit.