Read: 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 16:10-11
Yesterday we read where Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley on the way to his death. Today, we read where David crossed the Kidron Valley barefoot and weeping. The Kidron Valley is associated with death and was a dumping place for idolatry.
The priests accompanied David with the ark of the covenant. They offered sacrifices on the altar until the people who were with David were safely out of the city, then David ordered Zadok to take the ark back to Jerusalem. Whether David got to see it again would be in God’s hands. Zadok and his two sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were to go back and be David’s spies.
David got news that one of his advisors, Ahithophel, had conspired with Absalom so he prayed that God would turn his counsel into foolishness.
David was greeted by many people on his way out of Jerusalem. One was Hushai, his friend and councelor which he sent back with the priests to gain intel for him.
Next, David met Ziba, Saul’s servant who David had given charge over Mephibosheth’s land. He met David with food and wine and a lie. He told David that Mephibosheth had stayed in Jerusalem to wait for Absalom hoping he would be made king. David, rashly gave Ziba all of Mephibosheth’s land for himself.
Lastly, David met a man named Shimei from Saul’s clan. He cursed David and his men and threw stones at them. Abishia, the kings body guard wanted to cut his head off but David wouldn’t let him. He hoped that one day God would turn this cursing into a blessing.
Meanwhile as Hushai and the priest were entering Jerusalem through one gate, Absalom and his entourage were entering another gate. They arrived at the palace the same time. When Absalom questioned Hushai’s loyalty, he convinced him that he was there to serve him just as he had faithfully served David. Absalom believed him but he took advise from Ahithophel. Ahithophel advised him to set up a tent on top of his palace and go in to his father’s concubines so all could see. This fulfilled the prophecy given to David in 2 Samuel 12:11.
In John, Peter is confronted two more times by people who recognize him as one of Jesus’ followers. He denied, and the rooster crowed.
Jesus had been up all night being interrogated and abused. When morning came, they took him from Caiphas’ house to the palace of the Roman governor, Pilate. He asked for the charge against Jesus and they couldn’t come up with a charge so he told them to judge Jesus theirselves by their laws. They explained that their laws didn’t allow capital punishment.
Pilate took Jesus into his house and questioned him. When he couldn’t find any reason to arrest or charge him he went back outside and told the Jews. He decided to let the people choose who he would pardon since it was their custom to pardon one prisoner at that season. He brought out a man named Barabbus who was in jail for murdering people who opposed his religious beliefs. He was the exact opposite of Jesus. Pilate thought for sure that they would want to save Jesus and crucify Barabbus but they wanted Barabbus released. Pilate had no backbone to stand against the mob so he had Jesus flogged. The soldiers made a crown of thorns and put it on his head and a robe on his shoulders. They mocked Jesus saying he was the king of the Jews.
Pilate asked Jesus if he was the son of God and when Jesus wouldn’t answer him he told him that he had the right to kill him. Jesus put him in his place and told him that no one could take his life. Only God could allow Pilate to kill him but the greater sin would go to the ones who turned him over to Pilate. Pilate was getting very nervous about the whole thing and did everything he knew to set Jesus free. When this became impossible, he handed Jesus over to be crucified. He prepared a sign to be read in Aramaic, Latin and Greek which said, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. When they tried to get him to change it to read, He claimed to be… Pilate refused to change it.
David and Jesus had so many similarities but I think the one that stands out the most to me is the fact that they let God call all the shots and didn’t try to change them. They didn’t manipulate situations to make their lives more comfortable or easy. They took the cross they were given and submitted to the pain and agony of their mission.
Lord, help us to embrace our trials as a chance to grow and not escape pain. Irritation and friction produces the best pearls.
No comments:
Post a Comment