Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 13-14; Luke 20:1-26.
Memory Verse: “And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.” 2 Samuel 13:22 (KJV)
Fornication is abhorred by God and that’s why he says that everyone should run away from it. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV), “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” When that fornication involves rape, it is even more complicated and so one can imagine why Absalom detests the action of Amnon for raping his sister Tamar. But God expects one to forgive those who sin against you. It does not matter the weight of the sin or offence. In fact, God said we should forgive continuously! In Matthew 18:21-22 KJV, Jesus responded to a question on forgiveness as follows, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
If you refuse to forgive, it rolls into hate and that turns you to a murderer! 1 John 3:15 (KJV) says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
What then is Hate? It is an extreme aversion to something or someone . It also means dislike greatly. When this lingers on, it becomes the root of bitterness. This is what happened to Absalom. The Bible says in 2 Samuel 13:22 (KJV), “And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.” As times passed by, his hatred of Amnon grew bigger until he hatched and executed the plan to murder him!
Hate is a poison that destroys from within, producing bitterness that eats away at your heart and mind. This is what leads to a root of bitterness springing up in the heart of the hater. (Hebrews 12:15). With such a root, the hater operates in darkness and cannot fellowship with God because he is light! “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” 1 John 2:9 (KJV). This is why you need to forgive anyone that offends you so that you will not run foul of God’s precepts. Jesus says in Matthew 5:44 (KJV), “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
However, you are expected to hate sin and not the sinner. Your love for righteousness and hatred for sin will keep you in fellowship with God. Hebrews 1:9 (KJV) speaks of Jesus Christ, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
Action Plan: Examine yourself and forgive anyone who has offended you. Also decide now to forgive anyone who offends you in future!
Bro. Biodun Oyapero