The Brook Kidron

The Brook Kidron lies in the valley along the eastern side of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. Through this valley runs a winter torrent that remains dry for much of the year. South of Jerusalem, the Kidron Valley joins the Valley of Hinnom, and the united valley continues towards the Dead Sea.

The Brook Kidron witnessed several important events recorded in the Bible.

King David crossed the Kidron while fleeing from his rebellious son Absalom:

“And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron.”
—2 Samuel 15:23

David’s sorrowful crossing marked his abandonment of Jerusalem and his throne. His sin with Bathsheba, and his part in the death of her husband Uriah, brought terrible consequences upon his family. Although David sincerely repented and received God’s forgiveness, he still experienced the bitter harvest of his actions. He crossed the Kidron as a rejected and weeping king, yet in God’s mercy he was eventually restored to his throne.

King Solomon also warned Shimei that if he crossed the Brook Kidron, he would surely die:

“For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die.”
—1 Kings 2:37

Many years later, another King crossed the Kidron—but this King was completely without sin.

After the Last Supper, the Lord Jesus Christ crossed the brook on His way to the Garden of Gethsemane:

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.”
—John 18:1

David crossed the Kidron because of the consequences of his own sin; Jesus crossed the Kidron to bear the punishment for the sins of others.

David crossed as a king who was losing his earthly crown, but Jesus crossed knowing that men would place a crown of thorns upon His head. David fled to save his life, but Jesus willingly went forward to lay down His life. David wept because his son had rebelled against him, but Jesus went to the Cross for a world that had rebelled against God.

Sin first entered the human story in a garden. Jesus was betrayed and arrested in a garden. From Gethsemane He was taken into custody, falsely accused, mocked, beaten and condemned to death. He suffered upon the Cross so that our sins might be forgiven and we might become the sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Yet the Cross was not the end of the story. Jesus was buried, but the grave could not hold Him. On the third day He arose in victory over sin, death and hell.

The Brook Kidron therefore reminds us of two crossings. David crossed it bearing the consequences of his own failure, but Jesus crossed it carrying the burden of our sins. He went willingly towards the Cross because He loved us.

Because He died, we may be forgiven.
Because He arose, we may have eternal life.
And because He lives, we can face tomorrow.

      GOD IS A GOOD GOD

GOD KNOWS, GOD LOVES, GOD CARES

Written for Georges Web Ministries.com

Georges WebMinistries. Com

     Georges Bible Ministries

       George Poem .com

          Gi7Minstries.com

           Georges Poem.com

                  24 August 2016