Original Broadcast: August 2010
Monthly Theme: Eighth Commandment
After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate.
And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment,
Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?"
And when he said, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,"
Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right,
but there is no man designated by the king to hear you."
Then Absalom would say, "Oh that I were judge in the land!
Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice."
And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him,
he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment.
So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
(2 Samuel 15:1-6)
Absalom stole the hearts of his father's servants away from them. He did it by bad-mouthing his father, King David. It didn't take much after that to physically take over the kingdom, once he'd lied his way into the hearts of the common people.
Jesus doesn't work that way. He doesn't sneak into your heart. He pounds on the door with the powerful knock of His Word. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and He with me" (Revelation 3:20).
A king truly worthy of believing. A king who can raise Himself from the dead. A king who promises you everlasting life. Amen.
