David, part 5 Forgiving, and forgiving again Mike Taylor Forest Community Church Sunday 1 March, 2020 https://mikepreaching.wordpress.com/
Living under grace in a world of law God's grace means he treats us as good people Not because we are good but because he is; and so that we will become good. Today we will look at how David reflected God's grace.
Background Background At this stage in the story, At this stage in the story, David and his men are hiding in En-gedi. David and his men are hiding in En-gedi.
First incident After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! 1 of 4
First incident “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. 2 of 4
First incident After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king — he is the Lord’s anointed one’.” 3 of 4
First incident When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.” — 1 Samuel 24:1-10, 16-17 4 of 4
First incident By the standards of the time, David would have been justified in killing Saul.
First incident By the standards of the time, David would ? have been justified in killing Saul. ? Why didn't he?
Second incident Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.” So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. […] David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. 1 of 4
Second incident “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!” 2 of 4
Second incident So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep. […] [David shouted] “Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?” Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?” 3 of 4
Second incident And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? […] Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.” — 1 Samuel 26:1-3a, 7-12, 16b-9, 21. 4 of 4
Second incident David had Abishai egging him on to do what he knew was wrong but he knew he could justify.
Second incident David had Abishai egging him on to do what he knew was wrong but he knew he could justify. Do we have an Abishai?
Second incident David had Abishai egging him on to do what he knew was wrong but he knew he could justify. Do we have an Abishai? “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?” — 1 Samuel 24:9.``
Second incident “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” That was true, as all 3000 of Saul's men were asleep.
Second incident “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” That was true, as all 3000 of Saul's men were asleep. But maybe God did that to test David’s character.
What was David thinking? By this point, David knew what Saul was like. But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.” — 1 Samuel 27:1. David was under no illusions that Saul would stop hunting him. He knew that sparing Saul would not end the hunt.
What was David doing? He was forgiving Saul.
What was David doing? He was forgiving Saul. That doesn't mean he felt warm and fuzzy about him.
What was David doing? He was forgiving Saul. That doesn't mean he felt warm and fuzzy about him. It meant he decided not to bear a grudge. He laid down his legitimate grievance.
What about us? Often we won't forgive at all. Sometimes once. Maybe twice.
What about us? Often we won't forgive at all. Sometimes once. Maybe twice.
How many times must we forgive? What does Jesus say? Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times”, Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” — Matthew 18:21-22.
Four reasons to forgive 1. For our own mental health
Four reasons to forgive 1. For our own mental health
Four reasons to forgive 1. For our own mental health “Who takes vengeance or bears a grudge acts like one who, having cut one hand while handling a knife, avenges himself by stabbing the other hand.” — Jerusalem Talmud, Nedarim 9.4.
Four reasons to forgive 2. Because God has forgiven us
Four reasons to forgive 2. Because God has forgiven us This is not just an obligation, but a response Not a need to repay a debt — which we can never do, anyway.
Four reasons to forgive 2. Because God has forgiven us We are like David, who knew the joy of being forgiven, and we want others to know it.
Four reasons to forgive 2. Because God has forgiven us We respond to God's forgiveness by forgiving … Not only because we know it's right (“our reasonable worship”, Romans 12:1) But also because we want to mirror his character.
Four reasons to forgive 3. To be witnesses We want to show a distinct Christian witness. But that doesn't mean no cinema, no alcohol no laughing at off-colour jokes.
the one thing the world can't understand. ? Four reasons to forgive 3. To be witnesses These things don't impress anyone; they often repel. ? The distinctive Christian witness is forgiving —
Four reasons to forgive 4. Because unforgiveness separates us from God “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” — Matthew 6:14-15.
Four reasons to forgive 1. For our own mental health 2. Because God has forgiven us 3. To be witnesses 4. Because unforgiveness separates us from God We are really not left with much choice about this.
And finally … How should we forgive? “You can forgive someone almost anything. But you cannot tolerate everything … We don't have to tolerate what people do just because we forgive them for doing it. Forgiving heals us personally. To tolerate everything only hurts us all in the long run.” — Lewis B. Smedes.
How should we forgive? David did not excuse Saul's behaviour. He didn't say “it doesn't matter, forget about it”. It did matter. David did not forget. But he forgave.
How should we forgive? And we are not required to excuse those who sin against us. But we are required to forgive them.
How should we forgive? And we are not required to excuse those who sin against us. But we are required to forgive them. … For our own mental health … Because God has forgiven us … To be witnesses … Because unforgiveness separates us from God
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