Read: 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 16:10-11
The people who loved David wept as he left Jerusalem carrying the Ark of God. Zadok and the priests went with David but as soon as they were out of Jerusalem, David had a change of heart. He told Zadok to return to the palace with the Ark and be his eyes. David’s councilor, Ahithophel had abandoned David and was now following Absalom. David needed Zadok to stay and find out Absalom’s plans and send his sons Ahimaaz and Abiathar to meet David with the intel.
Hushai, another of David’s friends was asked to go and give Absalom bad advise to counter Ahithophel’s. David prayed that Ahithophel would give foolish advice.
David was also met with Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth. Ziba had brought food for David and his army. When David asked about Mephibosheth, Ziba lied and said that he had deflected to Absalom. David gave Ziba the land of Saul’s that he had given to Mephibosheth.
Absalom marched into Jerusalem with pomp and pride as David was slipping out in shame. Hushai went immediately to see Absalom and had to convince him that he was now loyal to him instead of David. Absalom asked Ahithophel first what his advice was. He told Absalom to go and sleep with David’s concubines in front of all Israel so they would know that there was no way he and David would ever be reconciled. So he did fulfilling prophecy.
In John, Jesus had spent the night being harassed and questioned by the religious Jews and they decided he needed to die. Since their law wouldn’t allow crucifixion, they had to involve the Romans. They took Jesus to Pilate. When he asked them what they were charging Jesus with the only answer they gave him is “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he were’t a criminal.” In other words, they had nothing on Jesus.
Pilate questioned Jesus and couldn’t find anything either. So Pilate though he had found a way out. He brought out Barabbas and made the people decide which one, thinking they would choose to set the innocent Jesus free and crucify the guilty Barabbas. The people didn’t make it easy for him because they chose Jesus to die and Barabbas to be set free.
Pilate had Jesus flogged, placed a robe on him and a crown of thorns on his head and mocked him. Then Pilate presented Jesus to them and said that he found him “not guilty”. A strange way to treat an innocent person.
When Pilate heard that Jesus had proclaimed to be the Son of God he was really frightened. He brought Jesus back into his chambers and asked him where he had come from. When Jesus refused to answer him he said, “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you.” Jesus made sure he knew that he had no power over him that his Father, God hadn’t given him.
Pilate went back out and sat at the seat of judgment and told the Jews that they would have to crucify him. The frenzied crowd led Jesus to Golgatha and nailed him to the cross. Pilate posted a sign that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The leading priests wanted to change the sign to “He said, he was the king of the Jews” but he refused.
Lord, it is hard to read of how the world treated your kings. David and Jesus left Jerusalem in dishonor only to return to receive their kingdoms. Help us to remember when it looks dark and gloomy, it is because the day is about to break forth. Hope is always rising.
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