When The Majority is Wrong

A Message About Standing Alone

II Samuel 19.9-15

As a believer there will be times when we will find ourselves standing alone if we stand up for Jesus. As difficult as they are, they can be the most precious times of fellowship with the LORD.

We so seldom get extended alone time with the LORD. When we stand alone we get an abundance of it. These times are rich with sweet fellowship, extended times of prayer and feasting on God's Word.

These are times when God can speak directly to our hearts. We live in noise. This is a time of a huge media glut. We can forget what silence is in our busyness. When we are still we experience that the LORD is God. When we quiet our hearts because we are alone God speaks. The silence brings quiet peace to our souls.

We learn to stand alone through the difficulties of life. We learn to put into practice the promises of God, to lean on the LORD, to find strength from Him during times when we are called aside.

David had these times in his life. He wrote of them in the Psalms. I think on of the reasons David was a man after God's own heart is that He knew how to stand alone. He had lots of practice as the family shepherd. Out in Bethlehem's fields, out there with just the sheep and the LORD, David embraced loneliness and also found his dearest friend was God Almighty. He had to draw on this when he fled from Saul and from now from Absolam.

Jesus, although He had the 12 He was teaching and women who saw to their needs who followed Him we are told:
John 2:23-25 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

So often what we see as a trial can be turned into a great blessing.
For example Paul, the apostle, was traveling all over the world spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Then he was arrested and imprisoned. From that prison he witnessed to the guards, he wrote letters to the churches he had planted and he prayed for.
To the Philippian Church he wrote (Philippians 1:12-14)
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.


2 Samuel 15:13 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

David had to stand alone. He wrote Psalm 3 and 9 during that time.

The reason David had lost his position as king temporarily was due to the majority of Israel siding with his rebellious son, Absolam. We live under a majority rule in this Republic called the United States of America. That does not mean the majority is always correct. Throughout history there are times when the majority has been wrong. This was one of those times. When the majority is wrong and we realize it we learn what it is to stand alone.

How can we avoid being in the wrong company even if it is the majority?

How to Avoid Siding With the Majority When They Are Wrong:
*Don't Be Carried Away By Appearance!
Absolam was very handsome.
2 Samuel 14:25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.

It is easy to be taken in by someone who is very handsome or pretty. They are charming and they charm us.
Remember what Solomon wrote at the end of Proverbs.
Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
A person with charm may appear to be gracious but they are often manipulative. Hidden beneath their pleasantries are some ugly motives and dark deeds. Charming people have a harder time surrendering to the LORD because they have to lay down the charm on the altar and die to it.
Such was the case with Absolam. He acted like a prince but turned out to be an adversary, someone who, unlike his father, David would lift his hand against God's anointed.

Stop judging things by mere appearance.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

John 7:24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.

2 Corinthians 10:7 You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.


*Don't Be Taken In By Charisma
2 Samuel 15:5-6 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.
He was slick. Unfortunately many charismatic fellows are. Absolam was a manipulator.
Many with charisma use it in the wrong way. It too is a difficult thing to surrender to Christ.
Discerning people ask questions... the right questions.
Dr. Goslaw and Art

I have to confess that there are times when a person with charisma has affected me... as I get older I am thankful for the lessons of the past. I am thankful for the growth in the LORD of not jumping to wrong conclusions about people who have potential to do great damage.

*Keep a Keen Ear and Eye Towards Those Who Sow Dissension in the Name of Justice.
2 Samuel 15:2-4 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”
Absolam was a crafty man bent on rebellion.
There are no kingdoms without critics.
*Rebellion against God's anointed is rebellion against heaven itself.
*If a person points out a fault in leadership that affects you he can steal your heart away. Be on your guard.
*Whenever I hear someone criticize someone else a little yellow light blinks and I am wary of that individual. I have so many flaws that I have need to take care of myself!

David had a few people from Judah who weren't buying Absolam's line.
These were loyal and wise.
They stood alone against all Israel. Actually standing meant fleeing.
They stood on the right side.
They weren't swept into the conspiracy.
They were in the minority.
They left with him except for a few "spies".

Many times being in the minority actually means being on the right side. Standing alone is something we are called to as followers of Jesus.

How To Stand Alone In This World

1- Be sure of who you are in Christ.
Get your identity from being His.
Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith...

2-Stand firm in Him.
Don't be swayed by the latest. Stick with His Word.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

3- Keep your eyes fixed on Him.
Straight ahead with Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

One day the battle we are in will be over. The spiritual battle we are presently in is one of the heart, soul and mind. Through God's power we can overcome and be more than conquerors through Him Who loved us!