Unforgiveness
David was a man after God's own heart, but like all of us he struggled with unforgiveness at times. One instance was when Absalom fled from his father after avenging his sister Tamar who was violated by her brother Amnon. Absalom devised a plot to kill Amnon. David grieved over the loss of Amnon and the fact that Absalom had fled, but he would not forgive his son and ask him to return to Jerusalem. Finally after the prompting of Joab, he allowed Absalom to return, but for 2 years he did not speak with his son. (II Samuel 12:21,28) That is a hard heart of unforgiveness.
Perhaps David thought because he had allowed his son to return he had done all the Lord wanted him to do to forgive him. That was not the case. Forgiveness is the full release of another person from anything they owe us, even an apology. It is a uni-lateral act on our part to release them, even if they do not repent or ask us for forgiveness. Why would we do that? God commands us to forgive, and He bases our forgiveness on how we forgive others.(Matthew 6:14,15) After all, our attitude of unforgiveness harms us more than it harms the other person, and it breaks our fellowship with the Lord. Therefore, we must do all in our power to totally forgive everyone against whom we are holding any grudge. Jesus is the Master of forgiveness. He will help us, if we will ask Him. Then, we will be right with Him and be at peace in our hearts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 16-18.
Perhaps David thought because he had allowed his son to return he had done all the Lord wanted him to do to forgive him. That was not the case. Forgiveness is the full release of another person from anything they owe us, even an apology. It is a uni-lateral act on our part to release them, even if they do not repent or ask us for forgiveness. Why would we do that? God commands us to forgive, and He bases our forgiveness on how we forgive others.(Matthew 6:14,15) After all, our attitude of unforgiveness harms us more than it harms the other person, and it breaks our fellowship with the Lord. Therefore, we must do all in our power to totally forgive everyone against whom we are holding any grudge. Jesus is the Master of forgiveness. He will help us, if we will ask Him. Then, we will be right with Him and be at peace in our hearts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 16-18.