5 Smooth Stones

together, and walked to the house of God in the throng. Psalms 55:20: “He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant. 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than bu tt er, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.” David wrote this concerning Ahithophel who was a close advisor and con fi dant to him, who took the side of Absalom in plo tt ing to kill him and over throw him as king. Before his betrayal of David the word of Ahithophel was considered the word of a prophet. 2 Samuel 16:23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom Absalom means Father of Peace and one can’t help but wonder that he was named this in great hope that he would be a peace maker, but rather he became a maker of war. Absalom was David’s son born to his wife Maachah, He was good looking, well liked and seemed to have a lot of potential and was a favorite of David. It seems as though Absalom was aware of his giftedness and allowed pride to become an issue in his life. One example of this is how Absalom built a great memorial to himself. 2 Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument. Actually, Absalom had three sons, (2 Samuel 14:27), but it is not known if they were born after he built his memorial to himself, or if they passed away while young causing him to feel the need to make a memorial to himself. It is interesting that he had his memorial placed in the valley of the kings, even though he was not a king. Judging from the actions of Absalom it would not be too much to consider that he built the memorial before he had his sons as Absalom did not seem to exhibit patience as a virtue. Patience as a virtue is an apostolic requirement, and Absalom is the test of apostles. While his gifts and a tt ributes were well known, the door to his downfall happened through one of his half-brothers, Amnon. Amnon was David’s fi rst-born son, and he fell in love with his half-sister Tamar, Absalom’s sister. Through a scheme by pretending to be sick he requested permission from his father to have Tamar be sent to care for him in his feigned sickness. Taking the advice of his nephew Jonadab, David sent 154