1569. David and Absalom
David and Absalom
"And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?" (2Sa_19:10).
The story of David and Absalom is quite as striking in its typology, as is that of David and Saul and Mephibosheth.
1. Absalom Is the Type of the Antichrist
(1) "There was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty" (2Sa_14:25).
The antichrist will surpass men in every way. He will be the devil's superman; he will be wondered after by the whole world. He will set himself up as God, and be worshiped.
(2) "Oh that I were made judge in the land" (2Sa_15:4).
The desire of Absalom's heart was the kingdom. The antichrist, in the spirit of the devil, will exalt himself above the stars of God–he will seek to be king.
(3) "So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel" (2Sa_15:6, l. c.).
Through his subtleties and through his expressions and promises, Absalom won his way. Absalom went so far as to put forth his hand and to kiss any man who came nigh to him.
The antichrist will come with all lying wonders and signs and with all subtleties and deceptions. He will come working miracles; he will come with the delusions of unrighteousness. Thus will he steal the hearts of men.
2. David's Flight From Absalom
"And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness" (2Sa_15:23).
David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and he wept as he went up, and he had his head covered and he went up barefoot.
We cannot but remember how our Lord went up by the same mount, to Glory; but, He went up a victor, while David went up weeping.
In order to get the fullness of this type, we must remember first of all, how, as Christ neared the hour of His Cross, He wept over Jerusalem.
We must remember, secondly, that Christ went over the very brook which David passed, the brook Kidron, into the Garden, where He sweat, as it were, great drops of blood.
While David wept as he went over, his tears were soon turned to the shout of victory. This is discovered in a study of the third Psalm, a Psalm which contains David's prayer as he fled from his son Absalom. The prayer concludes: "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: Thy blessing is upon Thy people."
3. Absalom Dead in Battle
"And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?" (2Sa_19:10).
How happy we should be that the Lord Jesus will descend from Heaven with a shout of victory, the antichrist will be destroyed with the brightness of His coming, and with the breath of His mouth! Then, "the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one."
A closing word may be apropos–In the day of David's humiliation, when he was hunted unto the death by his enemy Saul, all the men who were in distress and all who had debts, and all who were discontented, followed after him.
In the day when David was crowned as king, he remembered those men, and gave to them all rich rewards for their fidelity.
Let us not be ashamed to go outside the camp with our Lord, and bear His reproach, for when He reigns in glory, He will remember us, and reward us according to our works.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR