Daily Devotional For Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Good day Southside! We have been looking at verses from The Chronological Bible, today we come to more deception, treason, lying, and arrogance. Absalom decides he is God’s chosen king over Israel and begins to move heaven and earth to assume the throne. As a result, David flees Jerusalem, thinking that all of Israel is now behind Absalom. Our passage for today is 2 Samuel 15:30:

“David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill” (NLT).

We read this story and we often miss the grief, the regret, the passion and the misery David felt – all due to his own sins with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, Uriah. This passage sums up David’s attitude and reveals his countenance. The full weight of his sin is now bearing down on him as the consequences play out in real time against him. Everyone David had trusted now turns on him probably to spare their own lives. Allegiance to Absalom would guarantee their own lives. Here “the man after God’s own heart” finds himself as “the man after his grief’s own heart.” He is devastated and depressed. We can almost hear him whisper, “If only . . .  If only . . . If only . . .” He will learn from this but only in a tragic and fatal way. 

Our Savior came and suffered, not due to any sin of His own, because He had none. He suffered due to our sin. Jesus was known as a “man of sorrows” (Isa. 53:3). David had no idea the domino effect of destruction and death his sin would bring. The baby that was conceived, died in 2 Samuel 12. His daughter Tamar is raped by her half-brother Amnon in    2 Samuel 13. 

Absalom led a revolt against his father David and temporarily removed David as king and David had to flee for his life in 2 Samuel 15. David endured “curses and put downs” by people in cities around Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 16. David’s son is killed in 2 Samuel 18 so David can resume the throne. David grieved the loss of Absalom because this did not have to happen.

One decision by David created this domino effect. As we reflect on David’s darkest days, this moves us to reflect on Jesus, the Son of David’s darkest days as well. As Ittai and Zadok joined David in his sufferings, we are invited to join Jesus in His sufferings. David had some trusted advisors such as Ahithophel betray him and join Absaolom. This is why Psalm 41:9 is a reference by David of this betrayal. 

If you have ever had people who claimed they love you, stab you in the back, then you can understand David and Jesus. Peter was not the only one to deny Jesus. Judas was not the only one to betray Jesus. All the disciples fled and went into hiding after Jesus’ death. We are no different. There are times we deny and betray the Lord for all kinds of reasons. As the prophet Nathan told David, the sword would never leave his house (2 Sam. 12:10-14). 

Reflection Assignment: What sin in your life has broken you and impacted others in a terrible way? How did you deal with that sin? What was the impact of it on others? What did you learn from this and what changes have you made not to repeat that kind of sin again?

Scripture To Meditate On: Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (NASB).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I do not often think of my personal sin having a domino effect – impacting others. David’s sin cost him horribly, even worse than death itself. Please forgive me when I play down my sin and do not take it seriously as You do. Please forgive me for minimizing my sin, rationalizing my sin and even excusing my sin. Please help those my sin has impacted negatively. Create in me a clean heart of God. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly