Incomplete Forgiveness is not Forgiveness - II Samuel 14-15 and Luke 17:1-19

The situation between David and his son, Absalom, became very serious because David did not completely forgive Absalom for killing Amnon. David did heed Joab's advice and have Absalom come back to Jerusalem. He eventually met with him and kissed him, but it was evident that he did not forgive his son. He continued to hold a grudge for what he had done. He did not release him from the debt he felt like he owed him. I think we can understand why this drove Absalom to stand up against David to win the hearts of the people. He felt like he had done the right thing to avenge his sister, but he got punished. David was the father and the king, but he did nothing. This was very disconcerting to the young man, Absalom. I can't help but believe that if David had forgiven him, he would not have faced a civil war. That was a result of incomplete forgiveness. I am sure that all of us have seen things like this in our own lives.

Luke 17 gives another element of forgiveness. It should not be limited to a certain number of instances with a person. We should forgive as many times as they repent and ask for forgiveness. This is hard, but it is God's way. We need to trust the Lord as good servants and do just what He says. That is the least we can do. That is acting in faith, even if we don't completely understand. To stop forgiving someone is incomplete forgiveness, too, and it is a sin. What if God stopped forgiving us after a certain number of sins? We would be in trouble. We need to be thankful like the one leper all of the time for God's complete forgiveness.

Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 16-18 and Luke 17:20-37.