Partial forgiveness is unforgiveness. Do we forgive fully and freely? I know. I know. Some people don’t deserve to be forgiven. What if they show no remorse? Do we still need to forgive them? Can you think of anybody who waits for your forgiveness?
David lost two sons when Absalom killed Amnon. Not only did Amnon die, but Absalom went into exile. David must have remembered God’s promise that his sin with Bathsheba would unleash heartache in his own family. Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar, who was the full sister of Absalom. David did nothing about it. So Absalom took matters in his own hands. He felt justified in killing his brother. In time, David was comforted over Amnon. His heart longed for his son, Absalom, who was still alive.
Once again, David’s friends came to his aid. As Nathan had confronted his sin, General Joab sent a woman to tell David a story about one of her sons who was banished for killing his brother. David recognized his own story in her story and consented to bringing Absalom home. But his concession was conditional. Absalom was not allowed to see David’s face. After two years passed, Absalom forced the issue. David kissed his son. But did he fully forgive him? By refusing to forgive Absalom fully and freely, David set the stage for further conflict with his son.
Is there anyone whom we have not forgiven? Forgiveness does not mean saying the wrong action was really not wrong. Forgiveness means releasing the other person for their sake and our own sake. Unforgiveness corrodes our own souls. God did not forgive us because we deserved it. When we confess our sins, he forgives us freely and fully. On my office wall, I read Karl Barth’s words, “Every day, we may begin, we ought to begin with the confession, ‘I believe in the forgiveness of sins.’” To forgive us, God gave the life of his only Son. Because God has forgiven us, we may forgive others as well. Will we? The world is watching.
