Fri.’s Devo - It is Finished!

Read: 2 Samuel 17:1-29; John 19:23-42; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 16:12-13 Absalom needed to do something about David and his men. He went first to Ahithophel who advised him to leave that night and chase David down and kill him. Then bring his people back to serve Absalom. Up till now, Absalom had just asked Ahithophel for advise and had followed it. But, now he wanted to know what Hushai had to say. *** Hushai knew that Ahithophel’s advise was the best, so he had to make his advise seem better. He went into a great oratory to remind Absalom of what a mighty warrior David was. He advised him to get the whole army of Israel and go into battle himself. Absalom fell for it. *** Ahithophel was so upset David hadn’t chose his advise he went home, put his affairs in order and killed himself. *** Meanwhile, Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar the priests what Ahithophel had advised and told David to flee for his life. The message reached Jonathan and Ahimaaz who gave the message to a servant girl. She was to bring the message to David. A young bot spotted Jonathan and Ahimaaz and sent news to Absalom. Absalom sent men to find them but they hid in the bottom of a well. *** David fled to Mahanaim where he was welcomed and all his men were fed. *** In John, They had taken Jesus to Gethsemene and threw dice over who would get his robe (Psalm 22:18). Jesus saw his mother and put her into the care of John. *** He said he was thirsty and they put a sponge dipped in sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his lips. When he had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” He bowed his head and gave up his spirit. *** The next day was the Sabbath so they wanted to take his body down before sundown. The soldiers came to break the bones of the ones still alive but Jesus was already dead so they didn’t break his bones (Ps. 34:20). One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and blood and water flowed out (Zech 12:10). *** Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of ointment of myrrh and aloes and together they put it on his body and wrapped it in linen. They laid his body in a tomb (Is. 53:9). *** Everything that happened that day had been foretold in the words of the prophets. It is comforting to know that everything that is happening now in our lives has also been foretold in the prophets. There is nothing new under the sun. *** Lord, thank you for taking our sin and sorrows and become our sacrifice. Thank you for purchasing our freedom and righteousness.