"David is like a prefiguring of the Messiah"
Dear Father Raymond,
I would just like to share with you the wonderful commentary today's reading on 2 Samuel 15 that is given in the Catholic Community Bible which you gave to me. It will not be a new "parallel" for you, but it is so well described that I think you will like it:
God wanted the Israelites of the period before Christ to have an image of him in the person of David, their first king. Those happy and glorious days of the young ruler, beloved by all, are followed by days of sorrow for the old king. During those years the countenance of Christ appears more clearly through King David.
Nathan has announced the consequence of David's adultery. In the trial, what emerges is only the humble loyalty of David who, without complaint, accepts Yahweh's will. The way David bears with the curses of Shimei astonishes us. How much more puzzling it was to people of those times who could only understand revenge. David knows that God will never leave him; his present misfortune is like an invitation from Yahweh to have greater trust. In order to attract Yahweh's mercy, he refuses to defend himself or to take revenge.
Even the details suggest this:
15:12 - a traitor from David's council... who hangs himself 17:23.
15:23 - the crying, the
15:30 - the
15:32 - the small group of followers on the hilltop.
16:9 - the general wants to defend his king with the sword; David forbids him to do so.
16:13 - the insults, the brief flight that ends with the death of the rebel.
I found this a very meaningful reflection.
William
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