Sun.’s Devo - Forgiveness

Read: 2 Sam. 18:1-19-19:10, John 20:1-31, Ps. 119:153-176, Pr. 16:12-13 The people decided that David should wait in the gate and not go to war because he was the reason they were fighting. If he died it would all be in vain. He agreed and they defeated Absalom’s men and Absalom was killed. David had commanded that he not be killed so when David learned of Absalom’s death he was full of grief. He had wanted to meet with Absalom and have some sort of closure but that was not possible now. As he grieved, his army felt betrayed. They had lost friends and family to fight for a king whose only concern seemed to be the head of the enemy. Joab finally talked some sense into David and David agreed to speak to the people. David had had his kingdom usurped just like Jesus had by the Jews and Pharisees. I wonder if Jesus feels the same way about Satan as David did about Absalom. Satan had once been one of Jesus’ friends or brothers and now they are arch-enemies. I do know that Jesus wept over Jerusalem and forgave his accusers. When Jesus appeared again to his disciples he breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. Then he told them that if they would forgive others, they would be forgiven, but those we don’t forgive, don’t get forgiven. That is the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness brings peace. One of our Psalms says that great peace is for them that love Your law and nothing shall offend them. Lord, We love Your law. Help us to speak truth.