Part of being faithful to a merciful God involves being merciful to others.
Like Jesus said, if we want God to forgive our sins, then we need to forgive the sins of others against us.
It’s not easy to do this sometimes.
Such as when somebody is doing all they can to undercut us at work or to undercut our marriage or other special relationship.
Sometimes a person is obsessed with getting our job or spouse or place as best friend to another and that person will stop at nothing in trying to get it.
If you’ve never been the victim of this obsession, you are especially blessed.
Many of us have been in the crosshairs of others.
It’s at such times that the sincerity of our faith is tested.
If we forgive the attacker, whether the person’s announced repentance for the offense is genuine or not, we are doing what God wants.
Being obedient to God is far more important than being in control of the personality dynamics operating within the heart and mind of another person.
Why this topic today?
In I Kings 1, the story is told of Solomon’s half-brother Adonijah who tried to steal the kingship of Israel for himself, even though David had not yet died and was still ruler. It was a foolish scheme that failed and you can read about it by clicking here.
When events that followed made it clear to Adonijah that he had really messed up, he ran to the tabernacle courtyard and grabbed the horns of the bronze, sacrificial altar in a public declaration of repentance.
He knew he deserved to die for his rebellious scheme against David who had already declared that Solomon would become king.
Yet, Solomon showed grace, perhaps remembering the great grace shown his father for the adulterous, murderous plot involving Solomon’s own mother, Bathsheba.
“Then Solomon was told, ‘Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”
“Solomon replied, ‘If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.’ Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, ‘Go to your home.'” (vv. 51-54).
Sadly, Adonijah wouldn’t learn his lesson and later schemed again in a way that would have led to a direct revolt. The second scheme would not be forgiven, however, and he would be killed as would be his kingmaker advisor named Joab.
The lesson from this story is that we’re called to forgive people even if they’ve been trying to rob us of the most important things in our lives such as our jobs, our families and perhaps even our physical well-being.
Solomon showed that we don’t have to be weak in our response. In fact, we are to deal firmly with such threats and issue warnings of consequences if repentance doesn’t occur. But if an apology is offered with sincerity, we are to accept it.
After all, we’re sure counting on God doing the same for us, right?
As always, I love you
Martin
