"THE FORGIVENESS FACTOR"
Text: 1 Sam. 24:1-15
What ingredient is it that makes a man or woman great in the sight of God? Is it their ability to pay back every act of unkindness or offense against them through vengeance? Is it their ability to do all they can to expose and damage the character of that person so that all will know and feel as they do, therefore justifying their own bitterness? After all, the more who side with them in bitterness, shouldn’t that prove their rightness?
I believe the ingredient that separates the men from the boys, and the girls from the women, the mature from the immature spiritually is the ability to have a heart of forgiveness for those that have wronged you...
There have been about 60 conclusive studies that show a clear connection between the health of the body and the effects of unforgiveness. In one study, vengeful thoughts (for as little as 16 seconds) led to an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and a decrease in T-cell counts (disease fighters). This is due to the hormone cortisol that is released in the body as a stress response. Researchers have known for years that stress is a strong risk factor for disease. In another study, people who suffer from chronic, long-term anxiety, depression and anger had thicker blood due to higher red blood cell counts, putting them at a greater risk of strokes and heart problems. Under chronic stress, less essential functions such as digestion and immunity are put on hold.
On the positive side, research show that when we practice forgiveness, the level of cortisol in our bodies decreases. As levels of anger and hostility drop, our ability to love and feel loved improve and as well as mental and emotional health. The immune system improves as well as cardiovascular functioning. Forgiveness can actually make you healthier, happier and maybe even slimmer! No wonder God says to forgive. The creator of our bodies knows we were not designed to hold on to grudges.
We can look at no greater example, other than Jesus Christ in the word, than the man after God’s own heart, David.
What is it that made David a man after God’s own heart? I don’t know all of the reasons, but I do believe today that one of the greatest characteristics of God also was one of David’s greatest Characteristics as well...
Even as God is a God of loving forgiveness in His heart for anyone who asks, David as we see in our text was a man who lived a life of forgiveness, not only during the story we just read, but when he became King of Israel...
Here was a man who dodged the attempts of King Saul upon his life a total of 21 times while his heart remained tender and forgiving towards his assailant!
Time after time after time the bitterness and anger of Saul kindled against David to try and slay him...
I believe the ingredient that kept David right with God was that ability to forgive even in spite of tremendous efforts to hurt and destroy his life...
We are often so taken up with the thought that someone has hurt or offended us, and when it really gets down to it, the reasons are often extremely petty.
Has anyone tried to kill you 21 times lately? I don’t know about you, but most people that would be grounds to get really ticked off!
How did it all start?
Most of us learned the story of David and Goliath as young children in Sunday School, or on the lap of Mom and Dad as they shared with us this great story...
David, as a young boy did what no mighty man of valor, including the king himself could do, and that was defeat Goliath and in turn make it possible for the Philistines to be defeated...
The Bible says that after this happened that Saul made David the Captain of all the Armies 1Sam 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
And then in 1Sam 18:8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
It started off with jealousy and pride...
Then we see the first attempt of the 11 upon David’s life as David went in to play the harp as he had done other times before, and Saul attempted to throw a spear at him...
1 Samuel 18:11
and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I’ll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
We see in the next few verses that Saul then demoted David from being Captain over the armies to being a Captain over a thousand...
(vs. 12-16)
David’s life before becoming King was a life of being on the run, watching out for his life, knowing the promise of God, yet seeing the reality of the hour. Having the promise in his heart, but living the problems on the outside!
What is that ingredient that keeps us right before God and our fellow man?
I believe it is the ability to forgive with the kind of spirit that David had...
What does a heart of forgiveness do?
Well, among other things today we realize that ...
I. FORGIVNESS TURNS THE PROBLEM OVER TO GOD
We see in Ch. 24:12,13,15 that David knew exactly who was in control of the destiny of all human lives including the King of Israel...
David already knew that He, not Saul’s son Jonathon was going to be the next King of Israel, but he never wavered in his belief that God knew what He was doing, and the timing of it all...
Where would our relationships be with one another if we simply would say like David in 1Sa 24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
Even in the Christian world today we can become so quick to lay a hand of vengeance upon a brother and sister when that’s not God’s way...
Do you desire to pay back at all cost or realize that God can fight these little battles if we just allow Him...
Sure, there may be times of confronting one another, but with a spirit of making things right, not getting revenge...
Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
When we begin to plot and scheme for ways to repay someone for our misery, in reality we are telling God He doesn’t know how to handle it and we can do a better job at it!
David easily could have run a spear through the body of the sleeping King if his heart was set upon revenge...
David was of the rare type who refused to bring hurt and pain to another even if it meant prosperity and rest for his own life...
In the natural he had all to gain and nothing to lose, but his conscience and his closeness with God, and really, isn’t that losing it all?
He had the legal and customary right, divine permission, and the actual opportunity to kill his enemy...
By doing so he could have regained his home, family inheritance, the respect of his fellowmen, as well as the kingship, and much more...
But he refused to violate the principle of doing harm to a man that had once been anointed by God to be the leader of the people of Israel...
David was a man of principle, honor and integrity who sought no harm to the man who had tried on 20 occasions to this point to take his life...(There would be one more time)
This world needs people of integrity who will not seek harm or vengeance upon another person simply because they have been hurt by them...
David trusted God. Period.
We see in 1Sa 26:10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
David trusted that if God set him up, then God knows how to take him down if He chose to do it...
Though David had done nothing but obey God 21 attempts were made upon his life, but we realize that at least on 2 occasions David had every opportunity to take the Kings life who had done so much wrong, but he chose not too!
What a heart of forgiveness and respect for God’s creation!
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
In other words, continue to forgive endlessly!
Turn it over to the Lord and allow Him to take care of your problems just like David did!
Even in churches today, if someone does something against us, the first thought on some peoples minds is to take it to court...
God must be weeping in Heaven at such escapades!
Forgiveness turns the problem over to God, but also we realize that
II. FORGIVENESS KEEPS THE HEART PURE AND TENDER BEFORE GOD
Here was this man Saul lying on the ground sleeping after becoming tired from pursuing him to put him to death, and David goes to him and takes his sword out, and cuts off a piece of Saul’s robe and walks away...
In this one act David proved that he wasn’t guilty of what Saul had accused him of and that was wanting to get rid of him so that he could sit on the throne...
Saul no doubt had convinced himself that David was after his throne, and continued to believe it and David showed that it wasn’t so...
The biggest thing I see about harboring offenses is that the person who does so is in great danger of manufacturing thoughts and schemes on behalf of the other person that are not even in their thoughts. Every waking moment seemingly is spent on either finding ways to get even, or getting exercise… JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS!
David had been bitterly hated and grievously wronged and here in front of him was the perfect opportunity to settle the score!
Finally, his enemy was in his power, but he simply cuts off a piece of his robe and walks away...
Vs. 10 said there were those around him saying go ahead David, Kill him!
You’ve had enough! One translation even says that "I thought to kill thee"
It’s in that moment of temptation that we find out what kind of character we really possess...
That moment of crossroad when we can either strike or walk away that shows what’s really on the inside...
Some years ago, Dr. M.R. De Haan, founder of the Radio Bible Class, said, "You can’t judge the spirituality of a Christian on the basis of his prayers, since praying is often done for its effect on the listeners. Nor can you gauge a person’s spiritual status by the loudness of his ’amens’ and ’hallelujahs.’ Even the liberality of one’s giving is not an infallible test. It, too may be done for personal recognition or to ease one’s conscience. I’m convinced that the surest test of the depth of our relationship with God is found in our willingness to forgive others." Showing this attitude through acts of kindness for those who have offended us often erases all feelings of bitterness in their hearts.
The temptation was real with all around him shouting "Do it!" but his heart within him saying Touch not God’s anointed one!
A rag wasn’t much to show for all he had been through with this man!
After all this David still possessed a tender conscience which enabled him to perceive the will of God and shrink from revenge...
1Sa 24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
Think of it! Walking away with just a piece of robe instead of a piece of flesh and having his heart smite him because he even did that!
Was it because David was squeamish about taking a life? Not at all! Here was a man who in his first fight slew a mighty Philistine giant with a slingshot and then cut his head off with a sword!
What was so different about Saul? David recognized that Saul was a man anointed by God to be King, and He felt guilty about even touching a man of God in disrespect...
Every one of us today have been touched by God and joined together as brothers and sisters...
We need to recognize the touch of God upon peoples lives, not only leaders, but one another as well...
See what David said in 1 Samuel 24:11
See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
My Father…
This was a respectful address from a junior to a senior, from an inferior to superior...
It’s the forgiveness factor that makes the difference in our relationships with one another...
David of course one day would become King of Israel, but He trusted God totally as to the timing of it all, keeping his heart pure in the meantime...
Not only does Forgiveness turn the problem over to God, and keep the heart pure and tender before God, we also realize that
III. UNFORGIVENESS ENDS IN EVENTUAL DEFEAT
Saul had long since lost the touch of God upon his life due to rebellion and unforgiveness which led to bitterness of spirit...
I Sam. 16:14 says that the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit began to drive him from that point on...
The tragic thing is that Saul at times really eventually believes that He still had God’s blessing and was doing this work for God...
After he had gotten word of David’s whereabouts we see in 1Sa 23:21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
Saul went on and we see in 1Sa 26:7-10 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
Once again opportunity presented itself and David spared his life again... This was the 21st time that Saul had pursued David to slay him...
We see how that later on Saul was needing divine direction in fighting the Philistines and he had run out of places to turn and we see the pathetic position he finds himself in 1Sa 28:5-6 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
What a place to be in! When one has lived in unforgiveness and bitterness for so long that no longer does God even want to commune with that person...
We read on and find that he went to obtain direction from Satanic powers and a witch...
Here Saul found himself at the lowest of lows spiritually and I believe it is because of a spirit of unforgiveness and bitterness toward another human being that he couldn’t overcome...
We read on just a few verses later in 1 Samuel 31:3-6
The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
[4] Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me."
But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. [5] When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. [6] So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
What a pitiful end to a life that could have been something with God...
In stark contrast to this unforgiveness, we see David forgiving and forgiving and forgiving again and going on to become one of, if not the greatest King Israel ever had...
David made his mistakes and sinned after this, but he always understood that as he had been merciful with others, that God would be merciful with him in his time of need...
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Don’t ever get weighed down with the baggage of bitterness, but release yourself and others to live free and victoriously through the forgiveness factor!
Is there someone you are finding hard to forgive today?
Corrie Ten Boom shares this true story in her book, "The Hiding Place":
It was a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there -- the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie’s pain-blanched face.
He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein," he said. "To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!"
His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.
I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.
And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.
