Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
2 Samuel 19: 21-23
19:21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?
19:22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I [am] this day king over Israel?
19:23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
Shimei Confessed, David Forgave—
After the death of Absalom, God turned the hearts of Israel, as the heart of one man, to David. Shimei, who had cursed David in his humility, through fear of his life, was among the first of the rebellious to meet David on his return to Jerusalem. He made confession of his rebellious conduct toward David. Those who witnessed his abusive course urged David not to spare his life, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed. But David rebuked them. He not only spared the life of Shimei, but mercifully forgave him. Had David possessed a revengeful spirit, he could readily have gratified it, by putting the offender to death (The Spirit of Prophecy 1:384). {2BC 1024.4}
David understood the power of forgiveness. He himself sinned against God and prayed for God to look upon his affliction and pain; and forgive all his sins. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions David pleaded: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. David prayed to God to “Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me. For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” David was a type of Christ: he was forgiving, obedient, humble, and generous. David had the fruit of the Spirit. He knew that if he did not forgive, neither would the Father that is in heaven forgive his trespasses. Some of Jesus’ last dying words on the cross were “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Christ Jesus instructed us to forgive, and we would be forgiven. God is faithful and just to forgive us, and David likewise did as God would do and forgave Shimei. In the Book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Our kind and gracious heavenly Father,
We come to You in thanksgiving and prayer. We thank You for Your love and Your mercy. You are a God of love and mercy. There is no other. Your grace abounds. Therefore, we come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. There is forgiveness in Thee. We are all sinners and come short of Your glory. We come to You
in our filthy rags praying for Your mercy. In spite of all our sins, You love us just the same and welcome us with open arms into Your presence. We thank You for Your love. For You so loved the world, that You gave Your only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on You should not perish but have everlasting live. You washed us clean in the blood of Christ and cleansed us from all unrighteousness. You put upon us and clothed us with Your white robe of righteousness. What greater Love we will not see on this earth. We thank You for it all, even for teaching us how to pray. In Your prayer, You tells us to pray “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” That we are to forgive one another as our Father in heaven has forgiven us. We pray to be like David, who was a type of Christ, forgiving and merciful. We pray to be like Christ Jesus. We pray to turn the hearts of men to our Father in heaven, to confess and repent of their sins and pray for mercy, grace, and Your forgiveness. Save us, dear Lord. Save our families, brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors, and strangers within our gates. We pray for our loved ones who are sleeping in the grave, that they lived according to the light that was given them that they also would be saved. We pray that we will one day see You in all Your heavenly glory. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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