Sun.’s Devo - Your Will Be Done

Read: 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 16:10-11 David’s faithful followers prepared to leave with him. David told the priests to take the Ark of the Covenant back to the city because, God willing, he would return. He told the priest Zadok and Abiathar, Jonathan’s son, to stay in the city as his spies. David’s adviser, Ahithophel now supported Absalom. David prayed that he would give Absalom bad advice. David and his crowd left weeping and barefoot. Hushai was waiting for him. Hushai was old and would slow them down so David told him to go to the palace and pretend to be faithful to Absalom. He could send David, Absalom’s plans. Hushai went to the city and arrived at the same time Absalom did. David met Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth who had two donkeys loaded with bread, fruit and wine for David and his men. When David asked about Mephibosheth, Ziba lied and told him that Mephibosheth had betrayed him. David gave all of the land he had given to Mephibosheth to Ziba. When David came to the town of Bahurim, Shimei came out cursing him and throwing dirt and stones. Shimei was from the lineage of Saul. Abishai wanted to kill Shimei for David, but David wouldn’t let him. When Hushai came to the city, he went straight to pledge his loyalty to Absalom. Absalom asked Aphibosheth for advice in what to do first. He told him to go and sleep with David’s concubines in broad daylight. This will show everyone that Absalom had made a clean break with David making the people free to support him. In John, Peter continued denying he knew Jesus. Caiaphas had Jesus taken to Pilate, the Roman governor. When Pilate asked what his charge was, Caiaphas said he was a criminal. Pilate told them to judge him by their own law, but Caiaphas explained that only Roman law could execute. Pilate had no choice but to try Jesus. He brought him in for questioning. The first question he asked him was if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus asked him if he really wanted to know or if he was told to ask that question. He was trying to know if Pilate was seeking truth in his own heart or whether this was simply a script he was following. Pilate got a little angry. He could care less about their religion, he only cared if it posed a threat to their government. Pilate told him that Jesus’ own people had turned him over, so what had he done? Jesus explained that the people who turned him over were not his followers and his kingdom was not of this world. Pilate asked him again if he was a king. Jesus tried to tell him that he came into the world to bring truth and only those who loved truth would understand. Pilate went out to the crowd and told him that Jesus was not guilty of any crime, but according to Jewish custom, he would release one prisoner. He brought out the worse criminal in his prison and stood him beside Jesus. To his surprise, they chose to have Barnabas released and Jesus killed. Pilate had Jesus flogged and soldiers wove a crown of thorns for his head. They put a purple robe on him and hailed him King of the Jews. They mocked and slapped him in the face. Then they brought him out to the people and presented him to them. They shouted, “Crucify him!” Pilate told him that he didn’t not find him guilty and if they wanted to crucify him, they could do it themselves. When the Jewish leaders told Pilate that Jesus called himself the Son of God, he was scared. He took Jesus back into his chambers and begged him to talk to him since he had the power to release or crucify him. Jesus told Pilate that he had no power over him unless God had given it to him. Pilate tried to release Jesus back to the Jews but they accused Pilate of rebelling against Caesar. Pilate was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He sat on the judgment seat and gave the verdict to crucify him. They rushed Jesus out to crucify him. Pilate had a sign made that said, King of the Jews. The Jews wanted to change it but Pilate wouldn’t let them. Jesus was nailed to a cross between two sinners. David and Jesus was both chosen by God to be kings. They were both wrongly accused and rebelled against. They both willingly gave themselves to the people and let God vindicate them. Lord, thank you that You are just and fair and your purposes are greater than our will or comfort. May Your will be done.