The king crossed the brook Kidron. 2 Samuel 15:23
The story of David anticipates in great detail another story, the story of David’s greater Son, Jesus Christ.
Ahithophel’s desertion brought great pain to the heart of David: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” (Ps. 41:9).
If these words sound familiar, it is because Jesus quoted them at the Last Supper with reference to Judas: “The Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me’” (John 13:18).
When David fled, he crossed the brook Kidron (2 Sam. 15:23). Then he went up the Mount of Olives, weeping (15:30). Jesus too crossed the brook Kidron after the Last Supper (John 18:1). A little farther was a garden called Gethsemane. He too walked on the Mount of Olives. And he too wept over the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:37). He was weeping not because of what his rejection meant for him, but because of what it would mean for the people who rejected him.
As striking as the parallels are, there is even greater significance in the contrasts. David’s people stood by him, but when Jesus faced his darkest hour, all of his disciples forsook him and fled. David abandoned the city to save his own life. But after he had wrestled in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went back into the city, and when he was condemned, he laid down his life for us. David lost everything because he came under the discipline of God for his own sins. Jesus lost everything because he came under the judgment of God for our sins that were laid on him.
What is your reaction to Jesus, knowing that even though he was forsaken by us, he chose to lay down his life for us?
