Forgive And Forget

2 Samuel 19:21-23

The Story

Shimei fell at David's feet in humility. He confessed his sins in his attack on David. He hoped David would forgive him.

David's nephew, Abisai, sought to kill Shimei, but David prevented him.

David realized it was a day of grace from God in his own life; God had forgiven him and brought back his throne to him.

David had sinned against Uriah, Bathsheba, the nation of Israel, and the God of Heaven. He had bowed before the LORD and confessed his sins, and God had freely forgiven him. Now he extended that same grace to Shimei who had wronged him greatly.

Nevertheless, David's forgiveness wasn't perfect. His last request to Solomon before he died was for Shimei to pay for the evil that he had done. David might have forgiven Shimei, but he never forgot what Shimei had done.

Lessons

We have all sinned against God and fellow human beings. And we have been forgiven many times.

We have a responsibility to forgive others who have wronged us. And We must be quick to forgive.

Remember...

God does not forgive like men do. When God forgives, He also forgets.

It is not easy. It takes all we have to forgive and forget the sins of others.

Like the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ, we must asked the LORD to increase our faith (Luke 17:5).