Today's Devotion
2 Sam 15:30taken from www.biblegateway.com
30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "O LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness." (NIV)
It is hard to read this passage and not think of Jesus as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. As David had been betrayed by his son, Jesus was betrayed by one of his twelve disciples. The impact of the betrayals and the expectation of future events caused both to be distraught.
The Mount of Olives is the location of many significant Biblical events. It is believed that this is where an olive branch was retrieved by Noah's dove as the flood receded. This was the watchtower for Jerusalem, and signal fires were built here to signify the beginning of each month. Apparently one of the first sanctuary towns, Nob, was built on its slopes to protect Israelites who had accidentally killed their peers. Some also believe that this is the location from which the descent of heavenly Jerusalem is observed in Revelations (Harper's Bible Dictionary).
David was defined by God as 'a man after God's own heart'. I wonder if God was remembering the time he watched David climb the Mount as Jesus made his final ascent as a man...or was he thinking ahead to the tears of Jesus as he watched David climb? Either way I imagine it broke his heart.
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