General Oglethorpe once said to John Wesley, “I never forgive and I never forget,” to which Wesley quickly replied, “Sir, I hope you never sin!” I’m sure when Wesley answered Oglethorpe, he had in mind Jesus’ words in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive others.” Everyone sins and everyone needs forgiveness.
In today’s text, David is going to have a hard time totally forgiving Absalom for murdering Amnon. David of all people, should have been quick to forgive his son’s sin, because he had committed a more heinous sin than Absalom, and God had totally forgiven him.
Before we give anyone the “cold shoulder” because of their sins, we need to ponder our sins and the total forgiveness we have received through Jesus Christ. That should make us quick to forgive others as we have been forgiven.
George