Day 123, Chronological Bible Study
Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Psalm 103; 2Samuel 12:24b-31; 1Chronicles 20:1b-3; Psalm 21; 2Samuel 8:2-8; 2Samuel 23:20a; 1Chronicles 18:2-8 Forgiveness and Restoration Children (and adults) do wrong things. They are disciplined and made to suffer the consequences. Yet when a child cries and apologizes, her parent hugs and forgives her. Both of them can then smile and rejoice for their restored relationship. Making peace like this scenario works, but we are not perfect. How Not to Forgive When we forgive someone, do we completely restore that person, or do we secretly hold a grudge and make him (or her) pay? Do we continue to make him suffer for his sins (keeping a record, rubbing his nose in his sins, and extending less freedom and privileges)? Granting forgiveness is difficult if a person has sinned against us or a loved one. However, the Apostle Paul writes, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV) As we learned in our last Bible study, when David sins, he feels so guilty that it significantly affects his health. Then, using an allegorical story, the prophet Nathan points him out as guilty of adultery and murder. Consequences do not mean unforgiveness God truly forgives David, but he must suffer severe consequences for sins. Despite David’s fasting, his firstborn son dies (2Samuel 12:10-14). More penalties will soon follow, which will devastate his family and threaten his kingdom and his life. Although God and others forgive us, we might also suffer repercussions, not out of spite but from natural consequences and justice. Compassion and Restoration When someone hurts or harms us, and then grieves about it and seeks amends, we need to restore him. We need to pray for a particular measure of Christ’s love if Satan and our human nature tempt us not to forgive. Jesus wants us to love others as he loves us (John 15:12). He died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, so we might be made righteous. We only need to turn to God from our sins and accept his gift of love to receive a pardon. When he cleanses us from sin, he does not keep records of our offenses—he cancels our debts (Acts 3:19). We need to try to do the same. David probably wrote Psalm 103 in remembrance of the time the LORD forgave him for his sins of adultery and murder. He says, The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14, NIV) God shows his compassionate love to a broken and remorseful king. This same love is what he shows to everyone who will genuinely turn from his sins and seek the LORD for forgiveness. (more...). When we are compassionate to those who are genuinely sorry for their sins, we are like God. How does God restore King David? He lifts him off his knees and face, stands him up, and gives him a mission to fight against the LORD’s enemies. The LORD gives him great success and even the gold crown of the king of the Ammonites. Perhaps commenting on this, the Psalmist says, “God ... redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” (Psalm 103:4, NIV). David further praises the LORD, saying, O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him-- length of days, forever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. (Psalm 21:1-7, NIV) Not only does God demonstrate his forgiveness and completely restore King David by giving him great military victories; he also acts with compassion toward Bathsheba and David, giving them a second child, Solomon. Because the LORD is a God of grace and kindness, he chooses to love Solomon and give him a glorious future. Somehow, although we do not know the details, God manifests his special love for Solomon. When he becomes a man, God chooses him to build a temple for the LORD. How will we manifest our love for others when we tell them we forgive them? We may not always feel like letting go of our anger and bitterness, but we should nevertheless show by our actions that we do forgive them. Our feelings will eventually follow our actions. Because God loves us, we should love one another. Focus Verse John 15:12 (NIV) [Jesus said] “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Discussion How should we not forgive someone? Describe godly restoration. Why should we forgive and restore someone who has offended us? Under what conditions? How did God show David that he restored him? How might we show that we have restored a relationship?
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study: Enter your prayer here: Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com Looking Ahead: After David is thriving again in his military campaigns, he suffers a setback. How does he Handle Defeat? How should we? Find out in our Next Lesson. Previous Lesson  |  Next Lesson Back to top of page Return to Chronological Bible Studies main page Go to Scriptures main page Go to Topics main page Go to Home page page last re-edited 5-1-2020

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