Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 14 April 2021 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Lessons From The Life Of Absalom (II)
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TOPIC: Lessons From The Life Of Absalom (II) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 14 April 2021)
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 21-24
FIRE SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 15:1-37
1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37 So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
MEMORY VERSE: “He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.” – Proverbs 11:29
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy.
PRAISE WORSHIP: Take a worship song as led by the Holy Spirit
PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY:
EVERY CURSE OF HOUSEHOLD ENEMIES PULLING YOU INTO DESTRUCTION SHALL BE CANCELLED, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
The MESSAGE:
In continuation of yesterday’s devotion and study on Absalom, there are yet many lessons to learn. Remember the Bible tells us expressly that the lives of these ones are for our own example. It will therefore be a tragedy to live without taking clues from those that have gone, to avoid their errors.
Also See: OPEN HEAVEN 14 APRIL 2021 – IN HIS PRESENCE
Absalom was an insubordinate child and a betrayal of his father’s love. Up till his death, the compassionate father, David, still desired that he be brought to him unhurt. But alas, his hairs got trapped in the trees and this led to his death.
He was unforgiving. He refused to forgive Ammon, his half-brother, for what he did to Tamar, his sister. He kept this in mind for long, seeking a suitable day to revenge. Contrary to God’s commandment, it is a sin to revenge any offence, no matter the magnitude.
Absalom represents evil conspirators, agent of felony and deceit. He planned a false party and made his father to approve the attendance of Ammon, knowing full well his intentions was to kill him in revenge of his sister, Tamar. He mischievously won the hearts of the people and set them against his father, including Ahitophel, a beloved and cherished counsellor of his father.
As a child of God, do you nurse such rash and ungodly ambition like Absalom? He did not regard even Joab that once helped him. He was so self-centered that his evil ambition to seize the kingdom from his father beclouded him. He lost all and lost his life. Such is the reward and painful gains of conspirators and all ungodly fellows.
Finally, Absalom can be termed a household enemy in the guise of a son. According to Matthew 10:36, Absalom became an enemy to his own father. Consumed by ambition, he was ready to confront his father’s armies of war. He slept with his father’s concubines openly. What effrontery and what humiliation!
When children grow into adulthood, they should appreciate the love their parents have showered on them and their efforts in nurturing them. They should not pay back with ingratitude and disloyalty as Absalom did. Absalom disobeyed God’s command to children on their parents. That is why his days were not long.
Beloved, I pray that the evil spirit that possessed Absalom, the spirit of treachery and destruction, shall not come upon you, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
- The counsel of the enemies over my life shall not stand, in the name of Jesus.
- Stones of fire, scatter the congregation of conspirators designed against my life, in the name of Jesus.
- Evil plans of the enemies against me, scatter by fire, in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
- Household wickedness that is after my life, die, in the name of Jesus.
- Power that joined hands together in order to reinforce battle against my life, scatter and gather no more, in the name of Jesus.
- I destroy any power assigned to avenge the evil of my ancestors over my life, in the name of Jesus.
- O God, arise and give me peace in my household, in the name of Jesus.
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)