This is not the Son you're Looking For

The Bible is a book of promises. Or, perhaps better, the Bible is  a book that fulfills a promise. The promise is that there would be a son, born to a woman, who would defeat the serpent. The Bible is the story of a search for this offspring who will crush the serpent's head.

Everyone we meet in the Bible is either a type of this hero (the good Kings, Noah, Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah, the bridegroom) or an antitype of this hero (the bad kings, Eli and Phineas, Cain). The story of Absalom is a particularly good and particularly painful example of this.

David wanted to build a house for God. This was a reasonable and Godly thought. Why should I live in a palace of cedar when God lives in a tent. God turns this desire around and tells David that He's the house-builder, and that someone from David's house will sit on the throne forever. If David was a good student of Moses, his mind would have gone to the promise to Eve of the serpent crusher, and then to the promise to Judah of a son with the scepter always beneath his feet.

Along comes Absalom. Is he the son? The early signs are not good, and frankly they only get worse. Absalom is actually an anti-type of the Son of David, and as the antitype not only does he look a bit like us, he also teaches us, by contrast, a little bit more about who to look for in the real Son of David.

Absalom fells the city following the incident with his sister and half brother. David graciously brings him home, and what does Absalom do? Immediately sets up shop by the city gate to undermine the authority of his father. David holds out his hand in forgiveness, but as soon as this forgiveness is enjoyed, Absalom takes advantage of it.

Is this not how we operate so often? We blaspheme grace by treating it as license. We come to God in contrition, and then turn from God in sin. We enjoy forgiveness, and then we sin again. And when I say 'we', understand that I mostly mean 'i.' Absalom shines alight into our hearts like the law, and we don't like what we find there.

Then, a few chapters later, we find the Son of David hanging in a tree. All sort so flashing lights should be going off here. Absalom is killed, against the commands of his father, and his father mourns, and division is wrought. Centuries later, the real Son of David will hang on a tree, and die at His Father's command. This death will not bring division between the Father and His people, but peace.

Absalom teaches us about Christ though contrast, he shows us what we are, and what we need. In the words of Nathan, 'we are the man' who defies and spoils the good King's offer of forgiveness. But Absalom is not the son we're looking for. He adds to the picture with darker shades that make the light shine brighter. As we turn the page on Absalom, we turn our hearts to Jesus, who gives us hope with His grace, and peace in His death.