FLATTERY WILL TAKE YOU NOWHERE

FLATTERY WILL TAKE YOU NOWHERE

There is an old saying, “flattery will get you everywhere.”  We see in 2 Samuel Chapter 15 how that flattery would appear to be  the modus operandi of Absalom.  He was a man with a flattering tongue.  Let’s take a bit of time to explore what the scriptures have to say about this trait.

In this quest to outshine and overpower his Father, Absalom had become quite a master of flattery.  He listened to everyone and agreed with all of them.  When David did not have time, Absalom did.

This emotional, touchy, feely approach seemed to assure the complaining citizens that the King should have prioritized their particular problems above all others.  Sometimes David had other priorities, but Absalom was there at the gates.  He stood among the people ready and willing to offer his condolences. 

HOW DOES GOD SEE FLATTERY?

Many scriptures address flattery as a negative behavior. They discuss how those who flatter often harbor deceit in their hearts, emphasizing that flattery can mask true intentions.  This is the pattern we see in Absalom’s actions.

 There are so many biblical warnings against insincerity and deceit in speech. Here are some key scriptures that reference flattery:

• Proverbs 29:5: “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.”
• Proverbs 26:24-28: Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
• Proverbs 28:23: “Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.”
• Job 32:21-22: “I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.”
• Psalm 12:2: “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.”

These verses collectively highlight the dangers of flattery.  We must strive to follow in the footsteps of Yeshua and encourage sincerity in our communication.

TWISTING THE TRUTH

Every flattering word Absalom offered contained a tiny grain of truth.  He became the voice of the people for any issues the King either did not agree with or simply did not have time to address.  The masses felt like Absalom “heard” them when David did not seem to be listening. 

As the King stood silently trusting the real justice and wisdom of God, Absalom’s flattery gathered up huge numbers of discontented followers.

WORSHIPING THE REAL KING

As we come to bow down and worship Yeshua as King of All Kings, could we fall into these same traps that Absalom took? 

True followers of Yeshua should never be this self-centered. Using flattering lies in order to get your own way is wrong. The first trait of a true follower of Yeshua is to die to themselves. In 1 Corinthians 15:31, It was Paul who said, “I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily” 

“I die daily” echoes Yeshua’s command to his followers. He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” 

Yeshua taught in order to follow Him we must carry a cross. In other words, something in us must die before we can learn to live.  We must die to ourselves and our desire to be in control of our own lives. Yeshua lived to worship and honor God The Father.

WE MUST DIE TO OURSELVES

This lifestyle is a stark contrast to the way Absalom was treating David and the citizens of his Kingdom. Instead of supporting the rule of the King, Absalom distracted from it. This caused rebellious attitudes among the kingdom. It divided the people.  

Instead of increasing the contentment of the followers of the authority of the throne, Absalom was creating discontent among the people. His ways resembled the ways of Satan, in that he was constantly tempting people to turn against the King.

USED BY THE ADVERSARY

If we let the adversary use us in this way, he will do it every time. Absalom made himself an easy target. Satan looks for people who are so wrapped up in their own importance that they can be easily deceived. Absalom fell quickly into this very familiar trap and trick of the tongue.

A COMMON AND UNWISE PATTERN

 We’ve seen the pattern over and over again. It happened with Eve in the garden, Cain in the field, Esau when he sold his birthright, Sarah when she chose her plan over God’s. 

The same pattern continued with Hagar when she rebelled against her mistress, Joseph’s brothers as they sold him into slavery, all the people as they grumbled against the leadership of Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. We could think of a million more examples.

LEARNING TO FOLLOW YHVH’S WILL

It never pays to use your own plan over God’s will for your life. The biblical records prove this out every time. Absalom’s self-centeredness just added his name to the bottom of an already too long list of those lacking wisdom and understanding. Hopefully, followers of Yeshua today can overcome and learn to seek only YHVH’s will for their lives.

SUMMARY

People are fickle. Especially people who refuse to listen to God. Some fall for every form of human flattery. Absalom was pulling the loyalties toward David away from the subjects of the Kingdom. He was conniving his way into the place of sitting on the throne and ruling as he desired. 

Did not Satan fall from Heaven for doing the same? God will not be mocked. Let’s see how King David handled this struggle as we go into next Thursday’s lesson.

A VERSE

Romans 16:18, For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

A TIMELY BOOK

The season of Elul has begun.  It is a time for 40 days of meditations, examination and repentance before YHVH.  If you have indulged in this sin of flattery, now is the time to remove it from your life and turn back around toward Yeshua and His ways.  Meditations help followers of Yeshua be reminded to stay on the right path. Gail Landgraf has written a beautiful and thought provoking devotional book for this season.  It contains 40 daily devotions that will lift your heart and turn it toward Yeshua who is the light of the world.

The book is available for purchase at Amazon.com.  Just follow this link to purchase it directly from this place: https://amzn.to/4xxeSZZ.  God bless you and thank you for supporting our publications.  We welcome your comments and reviews of this book both here and on Amazon.com.

A SONG TO REMIND US     Love Full of Lies | Emotional Song About Heartbreak and Deception BY Soong Mood https://youtu.be/v4gvFgYkwbU?si=PcmrD4fgtfNMvxNf

This is actually a love song, but  listen to the lyrics and think of it as being a story of how Satan fell from heaven by his deceptive and flattering use of his tongue. At one time YHVH loved him. He was made him the Chief Cherubim.  However, Satan’s love was full of lies. This is why he fell, and has been deceiving mankind since.