the Death of Absalom.
Abbot Raymond said,
For the beginning of Lent, a time when we consider the passion of Christ in a particular way, here is an image of King David as a Type of Christ and of the spirit in which he died for us.
The story of the death of Absalom is one of the most poignant episodes in the life of King David and is also one of the most revealing in its portrayal of David as a Type and foreshadowing of Christ..
Absalom is perhaps the ultimate personification of the sinner. He was so devious and treacherous and ungrateful. Even after having been forgiven the murder of his eldest brother Amnon and restored to his father’s house he set about treacherously stirring up rebellion against him and proclaiming himself King.
David had to flee for his life, but when his forces defeated those of Absalom and Absalom was killed it was against the express wishes of his Father who ordered that he was not to be harmed. It was in this death of Absalom that the image of Christ shone most brightly in King David. David loved him to the end, and what a bitter end it was. There is no more poignant passage in the Old Testament than David’s lament for Absalom.
“O Absalom, my son, my son Absalom. O Absalom, my son. Would that I had died instead of thee. O Absalom, my son!”
On the lips of David these words are just an expression of hopeless grief, but on the lips of Christ they are truly prophetic because that is indeed just what he did. For him, to will was to accomplish. He did indeed die instead of us. He died that we might live. _____________________
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