RELIGIOUS DECEPTION

PUTTING ON A SHOW BY RELIGIOUS DECEPTION

One of the worst forms of deception is religious deception. Why are we not surprised to find this to be Absalom’s newest tool for gaining more power and control.  Our next story starts with Absalom requesting permission from David to go to Hebron.  This request was made under the guise of fulfilling a vow to the Lord.  

However, there was no vow.  This request was a strategic deception which allowed Absalom to gather more support for his rebellion.  It was all a lie.  Absalom was merely putting on a show to gain favor with the people.

WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT SINCERE

Maybe you have seen these tactics used in your own congregation.  I hope not, but many men have resorted to this type of deception.  It is actually a form of taking the Lord’s Name in vain. 

Yet, how many times have we seen unrepentant sinners in disguise come to the altars of our churches and dramatically pour out their hearts in public.  This staged and twisted action is a way to play on people’s sympathy.  It is so hard to know if they are sincerely repenting or being deceptive like Absalom. 

Thankfully not always, but sometimes people are merely putting on a show in order to gain whatever they can gain from fooling  the public. Often it appears that many are more satisfied to please the public than to please God. This is very sad, but it does happen. Unfortunately it even happened with the son of King David.

GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED

God will not be mocked. Our Heavenly Father looks at the inside and sees what is actually in our hearts, but men are easily deceived, especially if the person deceiving is aiming for power and control. Absalom was.

David agreed without questioning him. The ironic last words of David to Absalom were “Go in peace.”   

CHARIOTS AND HORSES

So, Absalom traveled to Hebron and began putting on quite a public show.  First, he purchased chariots and horses.  Chariots were symbols of power and prestige in ancient Near Eastern cultures. They were often used by kings and military leaders. 

Therefore these chariots and horses suggested Absalom’s intent to present himself as a royal figure.  Absalom acting as a king became a direct challenge to David’s authority.  Israelite kings were traditionally not reliant on chariots, emphasizing trust in God over military might.  Scriptures back this up. 

In Deuteronomy 17:16 we read, The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”

FIFTY BODYGUARDS

Next, Absalom hired fifty men to run ahead of him.  Today we might call these men bodyguards.  Think of the security a President would have when he traveled.  This was much the same thing. 

In ancient Israel this type of arrangement in public was a status symbol.  It stood for power, royalty and nobility.   From all appearances Absalom had become a very important man.

This projection of authority seemed to demand the attention and respect of the people.

ABSALOM’S AMBITIONS

The ambitious Absalom got up early every day.  He stood by the side of the road leading to the city gates.  The city gate was the designated place where all of the people conducted their business.  Often they needed to see the King in order to accomplish their goals and missions.  The King could grant them the authority to overcome their adversaries.  His authority could offer workable solutions to increase their success. 

Absalom made his presence obvious in this part of the city.  He became associated with those in authority.  However, as of yet, he had no real power.  This was an illusion.  It was the perception of power that he was after.  He was very successful in achieving this image.

STEALING THE KING’S FAVOR

Of course, King David  was not always available to everyone at the same time.  This could not be helped.  He was only one person.  Absalom knew this.  He used this reality against the impatience of the people to win favor for himself.

The handsome Absalom would stand near the gate.  He would act friendly to all who were passing by on their way to see the King.  As each citizen passed by, he would inquire as to what town they were from. 

When these men seeking help told him where they were from, Absalom would say “Look , your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the King to hear you.”  Then he would add “If only I were appointed judge in the land!  Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they received justice.”

Day after day Absalom campaigned up and down the road, shaking hands and kissing faces.  This seemed to steal the hearts of the people.  They all loved Absalom and rallied around him. 

WORSHIPING THE REAL KING

As we come to bow down and worship Yeshua as King of All Kings, we must examine our own hearts.  We are actually entering the season of Elul which invites us to consider our ways before the Lord.  Do we fall into these same traps of Absalom? 

A true follower of Yeshua could never be self-centered. 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.

CREATING REBELLIOUSNESS AND DIVISION

This stands in stark contrast to the way Absalom was treating David.  Instead of supporting his rule and increasing the followers of the authority of the throne, Absalom was creating rebelliousness among the people. 

Absalom’s ways very much resembled the ways of Satan, in that he was constantly tempting people to turn against the King.

If we let the adversary use us in this way, he will do it every time.  Absalom had made himself an easy target.  Satan looks for people that are so wrapped up in their own importance that they can be easily deceived. 

A FAMILIAR PATTERN

Absalom fell quickly into this very familiar trap.  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, 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.  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.

SUMMARY

Many say Absolam’s greatest sin was impatience. He might have eventually become king anyway, but he had to rush to the point of threatening the life of his own father. Impatience leading to deception are tools of the enemy of God. We must do all within our power to stay away from these two sins.

How is this accomplished? Scriptures advise us to speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15 says:  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Proverbs 12:22 warns us against deceit. It says, “lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” 

Tell the truth. It is that simple. If you are not strong enough to do this on your own, pray. Ask God to forgive you for this sin and to help you to overcome the temptation to be a deceiver.

VERSE

2 Corinthians 11:13-15: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

PRAYER

Father, please keep our hearts from religious deceptions. Let us not commit them nor follow those who promote them. Help us to shine truth out to the world so that others may see You living in us. Please give us discernment and help us to know your holy will in all things. Amen

A BOOK FOR THE SEASON

Gail Landgraf’s book titled CHRISTIAN MEDITATIONS FOR ELUL is full of devotions that help us to examine our hearts before God. You can order your copy here: https://amzn.to/3S7QhMk.

SONG

Deceptions – Christian Worship Song | Truth in a World of Lies by OnePlanet Nova https://youtu.be/3MmHnZOM9Jo?si=CiKcAXRGAVkN7nbF