As one thumbs through thousands of years of human history in the Bible, there are moments where certain events parallel or repeat. Some of these were prophesied to do so. For example God told Moses that He would “raise up a prophet…like you and put My words in His mouth” (Deut. 18:18). Similarly there is a parallel with a lesser known Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18; Psa. 110:4; Heb. 6:20). Even king David is prophesied to have Jesus as his heir and King (2 Sam. 7:12-14). However, there are some things that might be coincidence but are amazingly similar.
One such event occurred on the Mount of Olives. Second Samuel chapter fifteen records David and his people fleeing Jerusalem because of a political coup d’état staged by Absalom, David’s own son. David is rejected by the people (15:13). As David leaves he has his faithful that follow him out of the city (15:15-16). There is one, Ittai, who pledges allegiance to David, even if it means death, and later he becomes a commander and mighty man of David (15:21). They leave, passing over the Kidron Brook (15:23). There was anticipation of return (15:25). They went up on the mountain weeping and in aguish (15:30). David also prepared messengers (15:36). As you read these things that happened to David, you might already be comparing them to the life of another king.
Jesus also made a similar trip up to Gethsemane. Jesus was “rejected by this generation” and by the “elders and chief priests and scribes” (Luke 17:25; 9:22). It was prophesied that He would be (Psa. 118:22; Mark 12:10). The faithful followed Jesus out that night (Matt. 26:30). Peter pledged his allegiance to Jesus, even unto death (Matt. 26:33-35). Jesus went out to the garden over the Kidron Ravine (John 18:1). There was anticipation of His return (Matt. 20:18, 27:64). There was weeping and great anguish on the mountain by Jesus. “And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground” (Luke 22:44). Jesus spoke of the Messenger and Helper who would be coming (John 14:26). What a fascinating parallel.
It is evident that David’s life would be closely tied to that of Jesus, the Savior and King—not only by the bloodline but by the inspired works of David. The Psalms contain 92 predictive prophecies concerning Jesus. So as David is writing about his own anguish in Palm 22, we know that it is meant to parallel that suffering of Christ on the cross. David, the man after God’s own heart, shows us the heart of the suffering Messiah in that moment. More than the suffering, David shows the great confidence and trust in God (Psa. 22:19-22). Through these things we can feel in touch with the humanity of the One who was deity dwelling among mortals. May your life be one that walks where kings have trod.