Trail Of Tears And The Providence Of God

Even as we make plans and follow God, we can be stricken with grief.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   In 2 Samuel 15:24-29 David sends Abiathar and Zadok back into Jerusalem, not in resignation, but in a strategic move. David is setting up spies in the camp of Absalom. But then we read that David is still in grief. This still hurts. He is still broken over His sin, perhaps, with Bathsheba and Uriah. He is hurting because his own son is causing chaos within David’s kingdom. He is hurting. And in the midst of that pain, he receives the news that Ahithophel has betrayed him. We already knew that from last week, but now, David finds out. One more blow to the soul. One more person betraying him. We can hear David’s hurt in Psalm 41—“Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” He writes in Psalm 55 “my companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” David knows heartache and pain. And then, with a faint breath and exhausted soul, David prays, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” And this is where the Trail of Tears meets the Providence of God.