Typical Kingly Behaviour? (2 Samuel 15)
Read đź“–
Today’s reading is the whole of 2 Samuel 15.
So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:6
Reflect ❤️
“Last week I met someone who brings 5 different bible translations to Life Group!”
“Oh yeh, I know the type!”
Typology is the fancy name for how the New Testament writers see echoes and pointers to Christ within the events, practices and characters of the Old Testament. It was an important interpretative tool for them to understand Christ (e.g. Romans 5:14) and, with careful application, it is an important tool we can use too.
In our chapter today we see two “types” of Christ. Firstly in Absalom, a typical kingly figure who stands in sharp contrast to our King Christ. And also David, whose path, in some ways, foreshadows the path the Lord would one day take himself.
Desperate to be King
Absalom is, in many ways, a typical political leader. Our Lord Jesus is not.
Absalom enters Jerusalem with chariots (v1), with pomp, power and grandeur. King Jesus entered that same city on a donkey—lowly, gentle and to serve.
Absalom used charm and flattery to win the hearts of men (vv 2–3). King Jesus spoke the truth, even when it meant that all around him reviled him.
Absalom hated his father (for some understandable reasons) and fuelled distrust in his kingship (vv 3b–4). King Jesus loved and obeyed his eternal Father, one in will and purpose, bringing salvation to us all.
In many ways Absalom and the Lord Jesus could not be more different. If Absalom was a typical king, our Lord was anything but. Awesome in power, yet he chose to use it in an act of sacrificial love—serving his people to the point of his death. What a King we bow to.
Shadows of the cross
But we also see shadows of the cross in the events around David’s life.
(One danger when reading biblical narrative is to divide everyone into "goodies" and "baddies". David himself has already shown how deeply sin corrupts even "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). Typology doesn't say, "David is the hero—copy him", but goes beyond David to see Christ.)
As Absalom finishes four years of plotting (v 7), he mounts a ruthlessly effective coup. David realises his only hope is to flee and so he, his family and all his loyal followers rise and leave Jerusalem in shame. Running from his own son, this is a heartbreaking low in David's reign. But even here, in words that ring with faint hope, he declares “if I find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back…” (v25).
David’s faith in God, however weak, was well placed. In the succeeding chapters we will see this momentous journey of David reversed as God restores him. But let us jump a thousand years later and again see how this moment points to the cross.
Both kings suffered. David’s suffering, at least in part, was traced back to his own sin; our Lord Jesus suffered for ours. Both kings made a painful journey from Jerusalem. Both kings retreated to that same Mount of Olives. David wept in grief (v 30), Jesus prayed in agony (Luke 22:44). David had a plan (v 27). Jesus had one too.
Both kings suffered
David suffered, in part, because of his own sin; Jesus suffered because of ours.
Both kings left Jerusalem.
Both crossed the Kidron Valley.
Both climbed the Mount of Olives (v 30, Luke 22:39).
David wept in grief. Jesus prayed in agony.
David had a plan (v 27). Jesus had one too.
A suffering King—rejected, reviled, but chosen to reign. What a king! And I don’t mean David.
Pray 🙏
Let’s worship our suffering King…
I Stand Amazed in the Presence, by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned unclean
For me it was in the garden
He prayed not My will but Thine
He had no tears for His own griefs
But sweat drops of blood for mine
He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
'Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me
How marvelous how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me