Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of II Samuel Chapter 15
Metaphysically Interpreting II Samuel 15:1-12
15:1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 15:2And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come 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. 15:3And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 15:4Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 15:5And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. 15:6And 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.
15:7And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron. 15:8For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah. 15:9And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 15:10But 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 is king in Hebron. 15:11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything. 15:12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
August 23, 1896: II Sam. 15:1-12
1. In the process of time (forty years) this loved but unsuspected enemy that we have fostered and pampered and called “holy” and sanctified,” begins to put on royal airs, “with chariots and horses and fifty men to. run before him.” Our innocent thought habit is the most prominent thought of all.
2-6. The cunning deceit and insidious treachery by which a sanctified sinful habit “steals away the hearts of men (thoughts) of Israel” is shown in these four verses.
7-9. Having been long in full dominion in the David consciousness, we have rested in apparent peace, our enemies subdued. We have not taken note of the aphorism, “a man's foes are they of his own household,” because we have not been aware of the nature and danger of our “Absalom” thought-habit, or how far we have been consorting with carnal thoughts, in partial ignorance of our sin. But ignorance or carelessness will never excuse us from the perfect working of the law of manifestation. The sin of ignorance may be slow in coming into manifestation, but manifestation will come, though it may be long delayed; and the greater the hidden error thought, the more dangerous the manifestation will be.
10. We sometimes think our little habitual error thoughts to be very innocent; we may misname them “Father of Peace,” and console ourselves with that “peaceful” thought, until the dangerous manifestation opens our eyes to their real character and evil tendency. Then we may say as did David after his experience with Absalom's rebellion, “my feet had well-nigh slipped.”
11. A thought of the mind, erroneous and sinful in its origin, but indulged for long years, in conjunction with our spiritual thoughts, becomes an arbitrary, controlling, rebellious thought of great power and influence for evil. It is a “seducing spirit” carrying with it, in secret rebellion against the spiritual consciousness, the chief and leading thoughts and powers of the mind. “They went in their simplicity and they knew not anything.”
12. Even our sound reason and common sense (Ahithophel) is seduced by this “Absalom” thought; so rapidly do the mental forces increase continually with this rebellious “Absalom” that the speedy overthrow of our dominion seems inevitable; our holy David consciousness is well nigh overthrown. If we would reach the highest understanding and consciousness, we must cut off all sin and never compromise with carnal thought. “Straight is the gate and narrow the way that leadeth unto life.” The way to overthrow “Absalom” in the heart will be shown in the next lesson.
– UNITY magazine
November 1, 1903: II Sam. 15:1-12
When the attections are attached to things sensual, the state of consciousness built up is out of harmony with the higher law of spirit. David gave his love to wives among the heathen tribes, who represent the sense of consciousness. Among them was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. These names all have Hebrew roots conveying material limitations, as pressed down, heaps, a wall. The outgrowth of this love for materiality is a state of consciousness represented by Absalom, who pictured beauty of form. He was marvelously handsome and winning, with a head of hair renowned throughout the nation. He thus represents David's love for a beautiful fleshly form, and external strength. Beauty of form and strength in body are legitimate, but they must be based upon spiritual ideas. If they are linked with a belief in matter, and physical law as their source, there is an opposing set of thoughts in consciousness.
Absalom pretended to be religious and posed before the Israelites as their friend, when the king had not given due attention to their cause. Here is typified that subtle tendency of the love of form and shape in the physical to try to win religious following. The pomp and parade of religious worship is for the purpose of impressing spiritually-minded people, and many of them are deluded into believing that this is acceptable to God. All external means for impressing people in matters religious is of this character.
The lesson is that when we let our love go out and make unions with sense conditions, we bring forth states of consciousness of a physical character, that are a combination of spirituality and deviltry, and they try to win the whole consciousness over to their side and take possession of the kingdom. When this open rebellion is discovered, we take up arms against the flesh and put it down.
– UNITY magazine
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-08-2013
