FORGIVENESS
* INTRODUCTION
A. There was once a young man. He came from a good military family. He aspired to be a good soldier himself. After getting the opportunity to serve, his career elevated quickly. His commanding officer thought highly of him. But as the success of the young man grew, so did the jealousy of the commander. Soon, the commander became openly hostile toward the soldier, even trying to kill him on multiple occasions. He launched search parties to find him. The young soldier had to live as a fugitive.
The commander finally died as did all his family but one lame grandson. The young soldier, named David, remembered the unmerited murderous rage of the commander, Saul. David had a choice to make… be vindictive and extract revenge or to be merciful and forgiving.
I. DAVID SEEKS INFORMATION
II Samuel 9:1-8 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“At your service,” he replied.
3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makirson of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
A. Before we entered II Samuel 9, you can look back and see King David at the height of his royal success. He is pounding the Philistines and Syrians, he is putting up fortresses, and his kingdom is growing even more powerful.
B. He was in a position of unrestrained power, he could do whatever he desired. If he decided to kill off Mephibosheth, no one would have questioned it.
C. But David’s intentions are immediately seen in his question - “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
1. David looked past all the wrongs. He did not justify a violent retaliation. He did not seek revenge for nearly being killed multiple times. Think of that – he is looking at the grandson of a man who kept trying to KILL him.
2. Yet David wanted to show him Kindness. How would David have felt if he executed Mephibosheth? How does he feel by showing him kindness?
D. Look at the disarming effect that Forgiveness and mercy have on Mephibosheth:
“What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
1. Luke 6:35-37 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
2. Good Samaritan – Loved his enemy. Did good. Gave – expected nothing in return. Not just the Good Samaritan, but this is how God rules.
II. DAVID EXTENDS FORGIVENESS AND COMPASSION
* II Samuel 9:9-13 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.
13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
A. Ziba is to be a servant to Mephibosheth.
B. Ziba pledges to do everything that David has just said.
III. THE BETRAYAL BY ZIBA
V1-2 (7 chapters later) David has been away and Ziba goes out to meet David with a string of donkeys loaded with much needed drink and food.
* II Samuel 16:3-4` The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” “I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
A. Ziba, loaded with needed refreshment, meets David and lies about Mephibosheth.
B. David struggles with this news – showing Bible people are just like us. David gives Saul’s land to Ziba. Ziba kisses up to David. * Sickening little weasel
IV. DAVID REUINTES WITH MEPHIBOSHETH
* II Samuel 19:24-30 Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely.
25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26 He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba my servant betrayed me.
27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish.
28 All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”
29 The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.”
30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”
A. David has now faced more heartache, his son Absalom has led a revolution against him and was killed in the process.
B. This time Mephibosheth has learned his lesson, he goes out to meet David. He looks ragged to say the least. Unshaven, in filthy clothes, looking terrible – like a Duck Dynasty guy if he slept 6 months in a dirty dumpster.
C. He spills the beans about what Ziba did. He explains the scenario but then says, “My lord, the king, is like an angel of God. So do whatever you wish.” Wow, what is you impression of this sentence?
D. The Forgiveness he has experienced has so penetrated his heart that even though David has been persuaded by a lie, Mephibosheth lavishes praise on David.
E. V28 captures the immense power of Forgiveness - All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”
F. It gets better - 29 The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.” Vows were huge – not often repealed.
30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”
V. LIFE APPLICATIONS
A. You can find many stellar examples of Forgiveness in the Bible:
1. Jacob and Esau – Genesis 33
2. Joseph and his brothers - Genesis 45-50
3. Moses – Numbers 12
4. Solomon – I Kings 1:52-53
5. Stephen – Acts 7:52-53
6. Paul – II Timothy 4:16
7. Jesus – Luke 23:34
B. Forgiveness is a CHOICE.
1. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
2. Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
3. Forgiveness is a response to a time we have felt wounded, frustrated, offended. A RESPONSE is your choice: a poor response of a godly response.
4. Until we genuinely forgive, we are a prisoner of the one we resent. When we do forgive, we set two captives free. It is like cutting a malignant tumor off your heart. Takes a offense from SCAB to a SCAR.
C. Forgiveness is a COMMAND
1. Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
2. Colossians 3:13-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
3. Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
D. The fallacy associated with Forgiveness is the “Forgive and Forget” aspect. If that were possible I would not like it. Too easy. Its better to “Forgive and Remember” because that is where we test our Faith Walk.
