FRIDAY 12 August, 2016
Admitting Wrong Doing
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 that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” - 2 Samuel 19:19-20
Seemingly, Shimei humbled himself before King David. He asked him not to hold his sinful actions against him. He wanted to be acquitted of any wrong doing and hoped there would be no remembrance of his insulting actions towards David. He admitted that he had sinned. He did not hide when the king returned but was first in line to meet him. He came to confess and make things right.
When we admit wrong doing and confess our sins to the Lord, 1 John 1:9 tells us: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is important to understandthat He not only forgivesus butHedoes not even remember them anymore. Isaiah 43:25 reveals this truth to us: I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
David contemplated how he had been forgiven much in his life. He praised God for not imputing his sins against him: Blessed is the man to whom the Lorddoes not impute iniquity… (Psalm 32:2). Now he was faced with forgiving a treacherous man who was asking to be forgiven. As King of Israel––returning to his throne, Shimei’s life was now in his hands. He could receive mercy and forgiveness or judgment from the king.
Our lives are in the hands of God, if we humbly and genuinely ask for forgiveness we too will be shown mercy and not judgment.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
~Psalm 103:12~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!