Morning, May 31, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“The king also crossed the Kidron Valley.” — 2 Samuel 15:23

David passed though that gloomy valley and vile brook with his sorrowful company when flying from his traitor son. The man after God’s own heart was not exempt from trouble; indeed, his life was full of it. He was both the Lord’s Anointed, and the Lord’s Afflicted. Why then should we expect to escape? At sorrow’s gates the noblest of our race have waited with ashes on their heads; then for what reason should we complain as though some strange thing had happened to us?

The King of kings himself was not favored with a more happy or royal road. He passed over the filthy ditch of Kidron, through which the filth of Jerusalem flowed. God had one Son without sin, but not a single child without the rod. It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points like as we are. What is our Kidron this morning? Is it a faithless friend, a sad bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over all these. Is it bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of these Kidrons the King has gone before us. “In all our affliction he was afflicted.” The idea of distinctiveness in our trials must be banished at once and forever, for he who is the Head of all saints, knows by experience the grief which we think so unique. All the citizens of Zion must be of the Free and Honorable Company of Mourners, of which the Prince Immanuel is Head and Captain.

In spite of the abasement of David, he yet returned in triumph to his city, and David’s Lord arose victorious from the grave; let us then be of good courage, for we also shall win the day. We shall yet with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation, though now for a season we have to pass by the noxious streams of sin and sorrow. Courage, soldiers of the Cross, the King himself triumphed after going over Kidron, and so shall you.