Absalom got himself a chariot and horses and fifty men to run before him. 2 Samuel 15:1
David was still the king anointed by God. But in order to make himself king, Absalom worked a massive deception on the people of God: “Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (15:6). David was God’s anointed king, but this man stole the hearts and the loyalty of the men of Israel! How did he do that?
Absalom got himself a chariot! And when he went out, he had an entourage of fifty men who ran in front of him. Absalom was given to promoting his own image, and his hair was only the beginning!
This may have been the very first time a chariot was ever seen on the streets of Jerusalem. There were certainly chariots later in the history of Israel, but up to this time, chariots belonged to the enemies of God’s people. David said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps. 20:7).
With his chariot and his entourage of fifty men, Absalom looked like a king, which, of course, was exactly what he intended. He is posing.
The way of the world never changes. Find a way to attract attention to yourself, make an impression, build your platform, and gain a following. And this is exactly what Absalom does.
Where have you seen the hearts and loyalty of even the people of God won over through deception?
