Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
Devotional: April 25th

2 Samuel 15:30-37; 2 Samuel 16:1-4

The griefs that David now has to suffer are the result of his own sins. They cannot therefore be compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, which were all the consequences of our sins. Nevertheless, from certain aspects, they allow us the better to understand what our Saviour has undergone. See David, accompanied by a few faithful friends, ascending the Mount of Olives, weeping as he goes! Later on, at this same spot, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Man of sorrows, in the agony of His conflict, offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, unto Him who was able to save Him from death (Hebrews 5:7). It is here that the king learns of the treachery of Ahithophel, his familiar friend, his counsellor (but whose name means "brother of folly"!). It is there also that Judas stepped forward at the head of the soldiers and officers.

This, no doubt, is the moment when David’s cry of distress in Psalms 55:13-14 was uttered, "But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together . . ." Think with what great distress the Lord must have asked His wicked disciple, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" (Matthew 26:50).