Absalom's outward appearance:
"but in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him"
Clearly Absalom was a very good-looking man, the best in fact! However inside it was a very different story. Inside there was sin: hatred, malice, pride, ambition, ruthlessness and arrogance to name but a few!
How different from our Saviour! Here was one who had no outward beauty:
"he hath no form nor comeliness, when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him"
However inwardly of course we know that like Absalom on the outside, there was no blemish at all! The scripture records that he knew no sin, he did no sin, and in him is no sin.
What about the character of Absalom?
Certainly he was a man characterised by pride and vanity, hatred and malice, and bitterness as well! His behaviour with his half-brother Amnon in 2 Sam 13 certainly bears this out, no matter what you think about Amnon. He was also a proud and arrogant man. Just look at his obsession with his appearance and growing and cutting his hair (2 Sam 14:25,26); his entourage that travelled with him (2 Sam 15:1); and his clamour for position and power (2 Sam 15:4). He was a man with mis-placed ambition, he wanted a position that was not his to claim!
What a contrast with our Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 2 says that "he humbled himself" and that "he made himself of no reputation" and that he "thought it not robbery to be equal with God" and prophetically it was said of him "I am meek and lowly". Here was one who knew nothing of pride or self-promotion.
In contrast to Absalom our Saviour was kind, gentle, gracious and compassionate. "When he was reviled he reviled not again, and when he suffered he threatened not."
What about his relationship with his father?
The record shows that Absalom usurped his father's authority and rebelled against him, scheming for the kingdom and stealing the hearts of the people away. He also took glory from David and brought shame on him instead. Remember that following the incident with Amnon he fled from his father to Geshur to his grandfather, such was the severity of his behaviour! Furthermore he fulfilled the prophetic judgement of Nathan when he defiled his father's concubines in view of the whole nation.
With the Lord Jesus we can immediately see the contrast as he did "always those things that please the Father" he was "daily thy delight" and the Father was delighted and well pleased with his Son. He did not seek a position that was not his to have, the position he has at the Father's right hand over and above everything else is his by right, given to him by his Father! In addition the Lord Jesus ever brought glory to his Father: "I have glorified thee on the earth". What a contrast to the rebel Absalom!
[caption id="attachment_216" align="alignright" width="230" caption=""And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.""]
[/caption]What can we learn about Absalom's death?
This very interesting, as it records in 2 Sam 18 that Absalom was "taken up between the heaven and the earth" as he rode upon his ass away from the battle in the woods of Ephraim. So like the Saviour he died on a tree, however there the similarities end. Absalom was there against his will, held there by his hair - that symbol of his fleshly pride and arrogance!
The Lord Jesus also hung on a tree between heaven and earth but of course he was there voluntarily as a willing victim. He was there according to the Father's will. The prophet records that "they pierced my hands and my feet" Unlike Absalom this is what held him to the tree at Calvary! His hands - symbols of his gracious works and acts of compassion! His feet - symbols of that perfect pathway and righteous walk whilst down here.
The epilogue that followed the death of Absalom:
Remember the abject grief of David? "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" There can be no doubt that David was grief-stricken and would have done anything to save his son from death, to the extent he would have died in his place! It is with profound thanks and praise that we read in Romans 8 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" God would not spare his Son, but delivered him up to die for us all!
Finally there is a further interesting point concerning Absalom. He was very concerned about his legacy: "Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance" We read in 2 Sam 14 that Absalom did have 3 sons born to him but they must have died in early life and so here was a man who was paranoid about having sons to remember him and a legacy left behind!
How lovely to compare this to the Lord Jesus. Unlike Absalom he has many sons who remember his name! "bringing many sons to glory" Heb 2:10 We have been made "by grace sons of God" We are His sons! We are in this blessed and privileged position through his grace and we gather together to keep his name in remembrance:
"this do in remembrance of me"
"for as often as ye take this bread and drink this cup ye do show forth the Lords death until he come"
How wonderful it is to return as grateful and blessed sons and offer up our praise and worship to our father God for our Lord Jesus Christ!
We trust that these simple thoughts will be enjoyed and bring benefit to our souls and much worship to God. As always, all comments are welcome.
Yours in Christ, Mark
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