Absalom

Absalom

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.   2 Samuel 18:18

Now ...

It is important for each of us to take time to consider 2 things NOW. Each unit of time, whether a moment, an hour, a morning, an afternoon an evening, a night or a season in your life represents a piece of your life which when past can never be retrieved. It may also be the last unit of your time on earth! Therefore you need to wisely and carefully live this precious NOW!!

NOW is WON if it is lived for JESUS!!

In his lifetime...

The direction you set for your life and what you do in this lifetime will not only determine your eternal destiny but also the remembrance that you will leave of yourself on this earth.

As someone said, " There is only one life, and it will soon be past: Only what is done for JESUS will last!"

had taken and set up a pillar for himself...

If you are busy setting up a pillar for yourself, it will not benefit you nor anyone else in this life or in eternity.

The pillar you should set up for yourself is:

P - Prayer   
I - Intimacy with GOD   
L - Learning   
L - Leading   
A - Altar of sacrificial living   
R - Resting in GOD

which is in the King's Valley...

Even if you are a King's Kid, your life will be one of defeat.

For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance."...

If you have not imparted of yourself to anyone, your life has been unprofitable.

He called the pillar after his own name...

Your name will disappear as a vapour.

And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument...

You will only be remembered for your self-centred life!

Absalom

Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head--at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him--when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king's standard.  2 Samuel 14:25-26

After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:1,5-6

And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king's face. 2 Samuel 14:28

As the people of Israel praised Absalom for his good looks, he became self-centred, puffed up and self-seeking. He conspired against his own father, King David, to turn the hearts of the people to himself. As he was so consumed with his own motive, not only did he lose his relationship with his father, but worked and fought against him!

To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.  2 Samuel 14:27

The remembrance of Absalom is his outward beauty which was passed on to his daughter. Although 3 sons were born to him, he said  "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He probably lost his 3 sons.

Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.  2 Samuel 18:9

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),  Galatians 3:13

Here we see the handsome body of Absalom, carefully maintained without blemish, while battling against his father, hanging on a tree. Centuries later, not far from here, we see another body hanging on a tree - the body of JESUS CHRIST, whipped, bruised, torn and pricked beyond recognition. He had no form or comeliness and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. The former instance is the consequence of sin and selfishness leading to the curse. The latter is when all the curse in the earth is taken on by the Perfect, Selfless Saviour, releasing the Blessing of salvation to all mankind.

Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. And ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him. So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.  2 Samuel 18:14-17  

And they made His grave with the wicked-- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.  Isaiah 53:9  

The resting place of the body of the handsome prince was a pit in the woods! Although the Prince Of Peace did not even own a tomb, His body was laid by Joseph, in his own tomb in a garden!

GOD'S memorial

Exodus 3:14-15

14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

15 Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'

Proverbs 18:10

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

What will be your memorial?

Proverbs 31:30

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Genesis 24:60

60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: "Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them."

Deuteronomy 4:9

9 "Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.