2 Samuel 15:23-3123And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 24And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: 26But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 27The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. 30And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. (2 Samuel 15:23‑31).
As we see this weeping company, David and his followers, passing over the brook Kidron and up to the mount of Olives, how it reminds us of the Lord Jesus when He was here upon earth. We remember how, on the night of His betrayal, He took His eleven disciples and passed over this same brook Cedron (John 18:11When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. (John 18:1)) to the garden of Gethsemane. There His sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground as He thought of the bitter cup of judgment He was about to drink for us at Calvary. David had brought the sorrows of which we are reading here upon himself, but the Lord Jesus, the spotless Son of God, bore the judgment. we had brought upon Him through our sins. He was the holy, sinless One, but in love and grace He had come down to die for us. What a contrast! Nevertheless, it is beautiful to see in the Psalms, written by David at this time, prophetic utterances which refer to what Christ would pass through in His blessed pathway here. In some of the Psalms Christ identifies Himself with His own, as He will in spirit in a future day when the godly remnant are passing through the awful judgments of the tribulation period. However, in some instances they could refer only to the Lord Himself. This will be seen by anyone who reads the Psalms carefully and in dependence upon the Lord. Psalm 22 is an instance of this, referring to the Lord Himself in the dark hours of Calvary when He was forsaken of God as the Sin-bearer.
There is also a beautiful spirit of faith and confidence in the Lord seen in the Psalms, which is very encouraging to our faltering hearts. Even when we have failed, as David had, we can still turn to the Lord and count upon His grace and faithfulness. While we do not get Christian position, or the knowledge of heavenly blessing in the Psalms, the exercises through which David passed are very encouraging to us, and can be read with much profit. It is nevertheless important to make the distinction between Israel’s earthly deliverance and blessing, and the judgment of their enemies, spoken of in the Psalms, from that which is now our portion in this Christian dispensation. Our blessings are heavenly. We do not look for earthly deliverance, nor for the judgment of our enemies, for our hope is the coming of the Lord to take us to heaven, before He again takes up His earthly people Israel and brings them their promised national blessing on the earth.
When David learned that Ahithophel was with Absalom, he asked God to turn his counsel into foolishness. Ahithophel was a very wise man, but no matter how much wisdom there is in those opposed to the Lord’s people who are walking in obedience to Him, God can bring it to naught. Sometimes we are inclined to be cast down when we see the power and cleverness of those who oppose us and the truth, but let us remember that “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:3131What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.” Proverbs 21:3030There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30). Whether it be in the world or in the assembly, if we trust the Lord He will bring any opposition to His Word and truth to nought in His own time. Let us learn to trust Him, no matter how strong the odds are against us knowing that all He passes us through is for our good and blessing.
Messages of God’s Love 7/17/1955