"Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel" (2 Samuel 15:6).

Some call it good, aggressive leadership. Books laud its quality, and conferences feature those who have risen to the top in their field through its use.

But God has a different opinion about personal ambition. He forever reveals its gaudiness by contrasting Absalom, whose ambition was merely for himself, with his father, David, whose sole ambition was for God.

GAINING VISIBILITY TO USURP CONTROL

Absalom wanted to be king. He was naturally gifted and in line for the job. But he couldn't wait. Discontent to trust God's sovereignty, he formed a plan to seize what he thought he deserved. The particulars of his plan are worth noting, for they clearly teach the ways of the ambitious.

Absalom wanted to be seen. Personal ambition is what drove young Absalom to "provide for himself a chariot and fifty men as runners before him" (2 Sam. 15:1). He intended to be noticed.

Some people constantly call attention to what they have done or would do. Beware the man who sends out runners. Such a one is not satisfied with mere attention—ambition always wants more.

Absalom set out to manipulate the system. He began to "rise early and stand beside the gate" (v. 2). When any man came to the king for judgment, Absalom would intercept him, subtly mentioning that the king wouldn't really listen to him. "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice" (v. 4).

The personally ambitious think the only way up is to pull down those above them, all in the name of improvement. A man who always has a "Yes, but" when he talks about his superiors usually has an agenda; his pride says, "There's no one who can do the job as well as I can."

There are always better plans, and the good senior leader welcomes them from any source. However, watch out for the man who wants to ensure everyone knows the best ideas come from him.

Absalom concealed his selfishness with syrupy sweetness. When a common man would meet him at the gate and bow low, he would "take hold of him and kiss him" (v. 5). His feigned compassion concealed a darker motivation.

His plan appeared to work, as more and more people thought Absalom really cared for them. (It's not hard to get a following if you give people what they want.) But time would reveal that Absalom did care for someone greatly—himself. That was his problem.

Absalom couldn't wait. Personal ambition always moves prematurely, confusing many good men when the coup is staged. Absalom found a host of supporters who must have thought that his taking control was progress—that it was just time for the old man at the top to move over, that there needed to be a change. And when Absalom had gathered enough dissenters, he made his move.

CONTRASTING CHARACTER

The height of Absalom's pride would not be seen as clearly if it were not alongside the depth of David's humility. David was forced from the city by Absalom's army, yet every step was marked by the kind of mature humility that made David a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). One illustration suffices.

Zadok, the faithful priest, brought the ark of God along with them, but David told him to return it to his beloved city. "If I find favor in the sight of the LORD," David said, "then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation. But if He should say thus, 'I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him" (vv. 25-26).

David rose to be king by the Lord's choice. A simple shepherd called by God, he waited for God to lift him up, even giving grace and honor to King Saul, who was trying to take David's life out of jealousy.

In due time, God gave His servant the throne. Prepared through humility, David now reigned with grace. His were the greatest years; he had great ambitions too, but for God's glory. He saw who God was, and in that light he acknowledged who he was—a simple shepherd who had been lifted up to serve a great God.

AN INEVITABLE ENDING

Absalom's tragic story has several chapters, but such a life always has only one conclusion. God will not be mocked, especially when the leadership of His people is concerned. Impure motivations cannot remain hidden. They crop up like stubborn weeds in spring gardens.

David was ultimately restored, and Absalom was revealed for what he was—a shallow man whose only place in history was to illustrate the destruction and emptiness of godless ambition.