April 1, 2026 - 2 Samuel 19-21

After his son Absalom’s rebellion and death, David returned to Jerusalem where he pardoned his enemies, those who had opposed his kingship.  Among them was Shimei who pleaded for forgiveness:  “And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, and said to the king, ‘Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.  Do not let the king take it to heart.  For your servant knows that I have sinned” (19:18-20).  Now, the rebellions were not done for Sheba, a Benjaminite, rebelled and called his clan to rebellion saying, “We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel!” (20:1)  That rebellion was put down, an episode played out with the Gibeonites in which David avenged them, and war continued with the Philistines.  Just the normal goings-on within a kingdom, huh?  What stands out to me in these chapters is David’s willingness to forgive those who had opposed him and who then came to him in true repentance.  Rather than holding a grudge and lashing out in vengeance, David forgave.  With David as example, and Jesus as our Great Example, our prayer must be:  “[God], forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

Make me a channel of your peace:

Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;

where there is injury, your healing power,

and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace:

where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;

Where there is darkness, only light,

and where there’s sadness, ever joy.

O, Spirit, grant that I may never seek

so much to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace:

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

in giving to all that we receive,

and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.   -- Francis of Assisi (13^th century)