Sun.’s Devo - The Victory of the True King

Read: 2 Samuel 18:1-19:10; John 20:1-31; Psalm 119:153-176; Proverbs 16:14-15 David divided his troops into three groups and put one of his commanders in charge of each group. He planned to go out with them until his commanders told him he was worth 10,000 of them. David agreed to stay in the town and send help if they needed. David agreed, and stood at the gate while his troops went out. He gave the order to his three commanders to not kill Absalom and all the men heard it. *** They fought in the forest of Ephraim and more men died because of the forest than the sword. Davids men won but during the battle, Absalom’s hair got caught in the thickets and his mule kept going leaving him hanging from the branches. One of David’s men reported what he saw to Joab who asked him why he didn’t kill him. The man wouldn’t betray David and kill his son, so Joab stabbed Absalom in the heart with three daggers killing him. Then he blew the ram’s horn signaling to his men the battle was over. They threw Absalom’s body into a pit and piled stones on top of it. *** What a contrast to what Absalom thought of himself. He had had a monument built to himself in the King’s Valley because he had no son to carry on his name. *** Zadok’s son, Ahimaaz wanted to run to give the message to David, but Joab wouldn’t let him. He knew David would not receive it as good news and didn’t want Ahimaaz to be killed. He was probably remembering how David had killed the man who brought the news to him that Saul was killed. Instead, he sent an Ethiopian. Ahimaaz kept begging Joab to go till finally, he let him. Ahimaaz knew a shortcut and got to David first. He told him that they had won. When David asked about Absalom, he told him he had heard a commotion, but wasn’t sure what it was about. The Ethiopian arrived next and gently gave David the news about Absalom. *** David cried out for Absalom and deeply mourned. His army was humiliated and got no welcoming or celebration for their win. Joab came to David and rebuked him for the way he had acted and told him to go out and congratulate his army or they would abandon him. David went and sat at the gate till the people came to hear what he had to say. *** The Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes. All wondered whether they should bring David back as their king. *** In John, we have some of the same themes. We have runners of messages, fear and hiding and the resurrection of the rightful king. *** Mary had found the tomb open and empty and ran to tell Peter. Peter set out for the tomb, but another, probably John, outran him and got the news first. The linen that Jesus had been wrapped in was folded and was laid where Jesus’ head had been. Many say this was what a carpenter would do with his apron when he had finished a project he had been working on. Who knows, but they began to remember the scriptures had said he would rise from the dead. *** Mary saw two angels inside the tomb and when she turned to leave, Jesus was standing in the garden. He asked her why she was crying and who she was looking for. It wasn’t till Jesus called her name that she recognized who he was. He wouldn’t let her hug him because he hadn’t ascended to his Father yet. He told her to go and find the rest of his disciples and tell them that he was rising to his Father. *** She went and told the disciples and they met that night behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and blessed them with peace. He told them that just as God had sent him to them, he was sending them to the world. He breathed on them the Holy Spirit and told them to receive him. He also told them to forgive others sins. *** When they told Thomas, he said he wouldn’t believe it was Jesus until he saw the wounds from the nails in his hands and put his fingers into them and placed his hand on his side. *** Eight days later, Thomas got his opportunity. Jesus appeared and told him to do what he had said. Thomas believed. Jesus blessed us who would not have to see Jesus to believe. *** David was a picture of Christ in so many ways. His whole life was full of battles to win the position he was suppose to occupy. Jesus overcame death which was the final enemy. Now, we no longer fear death because we know that death leads to life. *** Lord, thank you for giving us eyes to see and hearts to believe. Thank you that you are patient with us and help us in our unbelief. May we receive your Holy Spirit and be your witnesses.