Day 290 – Forgiveness

2 Samuel 19:1 Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”

 2 The victory turned into mourning for the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king grieves for his son.”

 3 The people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

 4 However, the king covered his face, and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you disgraced your servants who today saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now, therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by JEHOVAH, if you do not go out, no one will stay with you tonight. It will be worse for you than the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”

 8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. They told the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” Then the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent.

 9 Now the people were in a dispute throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. 10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, died in battle. Now, therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

 11 Then King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of Israel have come to the king, to his house? 12 You are my brethren; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? Elohiym do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me in place of Joab.’”

 14 He swayed the hearts of the men of Judah, as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and your servants!”

 15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan.

 16 Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

 17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.

 18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell before the king when he crossed the Jordan.

 19 Then he said to the king, “Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know I sinned. Therefore, here I am, the first to come today of the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

 21 However, Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Will not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed JEHOVAH’S anointed?”

 22 David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Will any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I know not that today I am king over Israel?”

 23 Therefore, the king the king swore to Shimei, “You will not die.”

 24 Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.

 25 It happened, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

 26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 He slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of Elohiym. Therefore, do what is good in your eyes. 28 For my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your table. Therefore, what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”

 29 Then the king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’”

 30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his house.”

 31 Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan.

 32 Now Barzillai was an aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a rich man.

 33 The king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

 34 However, Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my city, near the grave of my father and mother. However, here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king and do for him what seems good to you.”

 38 The king answered, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do it for you.”

 39 Then the people went over the Jordan. When the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.

 40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. The people of Judah escorted the king, and half the people of Israel.

 41 Then the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and David’s men with him across the Jordan?”

 42 The men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

 43 The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore, we have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Names of God:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Protector

Many people throughout the world feel misplaced. They want to return to their homeland, but either it isn’t possible, or they have nothing to return home to.

After Joab spoke to David about how his grieving for Absalom affected the people, David let the people know he wanted to return home to Jerusalem. However, he wanted the people to escort him home. He sent word to Judah to bring him back to Jerusalem because they were his flesh and blood. Those who came against him when he left Jerusalem sought his mercy and forgiveness when David began his journey to Jerusalem. He let the people know he would do nothing to them for what they did. When he returned to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth met him and explained why he didn’t leave with him when David left Jerusalem. David acted with wisdom regarding Mephibosheth and those who came against him.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you received a new home in heaven. You are a sojourner in this world until Yeshuwa calls you home and escorts you through the gates of heaven. No matter what you did, the sins you committed against Him, He forgives you when you confess your sins with a penitent heart.

Have you thrown stones at Yeshuwa by your actions? Have you lied, cheated, stolen, and done every corruptible thing imaginable? We are all sinners in need of forgiveness. When you confess your sins, Yeshuwa forgives you and grants you access to heaven with a full escort to bring you home.

Don’t let your actions keep you from your eternal home with Yeshuwa in heaven. Confess your sins and know His forgiveness and mercy.

Let’s pray: Father, forgive me. I am a sinner. Everyday I throw stones at You by the things I do and say. Let me know Your forgiveness and mercy when I confess my sins to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 4 November 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux