This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo)) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 19, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 19 David weeps for Absalom, despite a great victory in battle, and all the soldiers are ashamed of their win. Joab has to rebuke David to snap his emotions and restore proper leadership.
While weeping for your lost ones is noble, David allowed his emotions to overcome his leadership. Christ does weep for his lost ones, but remains fully in control, fully objective. Christ is endlessly patient but knows when to end his patience.
One the way back to Jerusalem, David meets Shimei who is very sorry for treating David shamefully when it looked like he would lose his throne. Shimei is almost certainly not truly repentant. But he recognises that he is at the mercy of David and tries to put things right. He is a picture of the average sinner who comes to Christ. Most of us are not truly remorseful of our sins, but we do want the mercy of God. Is asks an interesting question. Do you forgive others when you know they might not be sincere?
Absalom may not be there anymore, but the seeds of his rebellion remain, and have budded in many hearts. The problems haven’t gone away politically. Bad attitudes are hard to shift, and they easily spread. I remember talking to one of my sons as a six year old, asking him to let go of his bad attitude at one point, he said “I want to, but I can’t.” Bad attitudes of contempt, pride, superiority, malice, anger and more, so easily come and are hard to remove. But there is a place where these things can be washed away, it is Calvary. We begin by asking God to forgive, and then we choose to forgive others. Soon the sting behind the problem melts away.
Oct 26, 2021 | Message by David Alley