Living Without Forgiving

The story we read today, 1 Kings 1:28-48, really needs to begin at verse 1. This entire chapter paint a picture of family dysfunction. King David's family had challenges and troubles, much like your family and mine. Not that this fact is a comfort, but it does point to the reality of our broken world. A world that has been broken from the beginning. From Adam and Eve.

The first 27 verses in 1 Kings 1 relate the story of one of David's sons, Adonijah, Solomon's brother. The King, David, his father, was dying. His life nearing its end and Adonijah decided to get a jump on things. He declared himself king and began to plan his coronation and all the pomp that goes with it.

Nathan, the prophet, got wind of what was happening and went to Bathsheba. The two then went to the King to tell him. David immediately rectifies the situation by telling Bathsheba, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” (1 Kings 1:29-30 NIV)

I wish I could say that everyone lived happily ever after, but when we read on in 1 Kings, we see that is not so. More bloodshed and retribution took place. But isn't that the way it is even now? Too often, family transgressions are not easily forgiven nor forgotten. Brothers don't speak to brothers, sisters ignore sisters, holding grudges for years.

Jesus came to change all this; He came to forgive us so we can forgive others. Jesus's suffering and death was the hardest thing He had to so. It stands to reason that the act of forgiving others may well be the hardest thing we do too.

Dear Jesus, give me a heart to forgive. Help me overcome my fear of rejection and do the right thing. Amen.

1 Kings 1