David was like the rest of us. When God separates the wicked from us we weep and mourn over them. The best thing we can do is to avoid them and walk with God. All the wicked do is cause trouble! trouble! trouble! Would we weep over those who are willing to crucify Christ so they can exalt themselves?

It is one matter to show kindness to the unsaved in the hope that God will bring them to repentance. It is another matter to maintain friendship with someone who claims to be a believer but by his self-will and desire to be preeminent brings division, destruction, and grief. It is neither kindly or godly to leave such with the impression that God is pleased with them. The way to show love to them is to avoid them, thus revealing to them that we do not consider them to be part of us. To continue to fellowship with them is only self-love on our part.

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. (II Samuel 19:6)

Absalom's younger brother walked in his steps.

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (I Kings 1:5)

The Absaloms manage to infect others. A little leaven leavens the whole ball of dough. Let us cease weeping over the tares and get on with the business of the Kingdom of God.

Let us seek to please God. The Absaloms are certain they are righteous and yet they have no knowledge of the Lord. God's people are often undiscerning when it comes to spiritual matters and will follow Absalom just as quickly as they will David. If we would keep from being deceived in this manner we must walk closely to the Lord Jesus and purge ourselves from personal ambition, hardness of heart, and pride. Otherwise we too may become an Absalom or a follower of Absalom.

To be continued.