Tues.’s Devo - God’s Plan Executed

Read: 2 Samuel 17:1-29; John 19:23-42; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 16:12-13 Ahithophel, Absalom’s advisor was called in to ask what Absalom should do concerning David. He told him he should take 12,000 men and take him while he was tired. They would isolate David and kill him then bring all the people back. This was great advise but God had other plans. Absalom thought he should get a second opinion and called in Hushai, David’s friend and spy. He told him just the opposite. He told him to send out for the warriors in all Israel and send the whole army after David and his men. This would give David a chance to escape with all his people over the Jordan. Absalom decided that Hushai’s advice was the best and took it. David’s two spies, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were discovered so they had to flee to Bahrain. There they were hid in a man’s well which he covered with cloth and seed. When the coast was clear they ran and told David what had been decided. When Ahithophel realized his advise had not been taken he went home and hung himself. David took his men as far as Mahanaim and was welcomed by Shobi, Makir and Barzillai who brought them abundant supplies which showed their deep respect for David. In John, prophecy continued to be fulfilled (Psalm 22:18) as the soldiers divided Jesus garments and threw dice for his robe. Jesus saw his mother and gave her to John to take care of. Jesus mission on earth was over so he spoke two last sentences: “I am thirsty” and “It is finished”. I wonder if he wasn’t thirsty for the wine of heaven and knew his life was finished on earth. He said, “It is finished” at the exact time the high priest would be saying it at the Temple. The priests had been killing lambs all day but at three, the high priest would have just killed the pascal lamb. The pascal lamb was the lamb that had been set aside to die for the nation. When he completed killing it, he would hold up his hands and say, “It is finished.” On Golgatha, the God’s lamb was dying for the sins of the whole world. Jesus wasn’t killed, he gave up his spirit, his life for us. Since it was the evening before a high Sabbath of Passover, the Jews wanted to take down the body before the Sabbath so they could wipe their sins away and be clean on the Sabbath. How hypocritical they were. They went to break the bones of Jesus but he was already dead so they didn’t have to. This was also a fulfillment of scripture. In Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 they were told not to break any bones of their lamb. In Psalm 34:20 David sang about the righteous and of one of them he says, “God keeps all his bones and not one of them is broken”. He had no idea he was singing this about Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea had been a secret disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate to ask for his body. He put Jesus in his own tomb. Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of spices to anoint his body. This tomb was near a garden. The Bible started in a garden and will end in a garden. Lord, help us to see that everything is according to your plan. Even when we don’t understand it, you are in control.