By Rev. Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
2 Samuel 16:14-23
Anger, hatred and bitterness due to unforgiveness. You cannot expect to see God when your heart is in this condition.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in the heart for they shall see God.
As the year comes to an end, some of us have really prayed and sacrificed with no results. We might be missing God's blessing because of the condition of our hearts. We have been seeking God but at the same time, our hearts are filled with resentment.
Huwezi bebana watu na ubebe baraka (You cannot carry people in your heart and carry blessings at the same time). Let this word open your eyes
Ahithophel was the wisest man in the kingdom of Israel. He enjoyed his position as chief counsellor to King David. He commanded the respect of everyone in Israel. He was the most esteemed advisor that David had. One can only imagine how bright his future and destiny would be. He was so respected for his advice that when Ahithophel gave advice, they said it was just as if God spoke.
2 Sam. 16:23,
Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.
During Absalom’s revolt, he joined him and was asked to give his advice because his council was so much valued.
First advice
Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘Go into your father’s concubines.'
Ahithophel advised Absalom to do something so offensive that there would be no possibility of reconciliation with David in the future. This was not just an act of immorality but more so an act of treason. Ahithophel wanted David’s women violated in a similar way to how Bathsheba was violated. Sadly He was willing to see these innocent women abused just to hurt David
He was ready to cause Absalom to sin grievously while the kingdom of Israel suffered greatly just to satisfy his bitter revenge. This is the power of bitterness
Second advice
2 Sam. 17:1-3
Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, ‘Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband.
Ahithophel had been David’s right-hand man for years and he was his most esteemed advisor. Now he seems desperate and determined to see the king urgently and completely wiped out. He even appears he wants to personally kill him just as David killed Uriah
But why?
Why would David’s most trusted advisor leave him for Absalom?
David and Bathsheba
2 Samuel 11
David violated Bathsheba who conceived immediately and as a cover-up plan he plotted the death of her husband Uriah, she then took Bathsheba as his wife.
This unfortunate episode left Ahithophel hurt terribly yet David was his master he could do nothing. He felt betrayed and ripped apart with her Bastheheba violated and Uriah killed.
The connection in 2 Samuel 11:3,
He (David) sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, ‘She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’
Bathsheba’s father was Eliam, one of David’s mighty men. In 2 Samuel 23:34. There we learn that Ahithophel had a son named Eliam. Ahithophel was therefore the grandfather of Bathsheba! His granddaughter's marriage and family suffered a tragic end because of David. Ahithophel was hurt deeply by David's evil acts, he never forgave him nor let go, he continued to serve him but with hatred burning inside him wishing him the worst. David's repentance made even things worse because God punished David graciously and in his own way. He never took him from the throne or killed him as he deserved, This only served to anger Ahithophel more.
Ahithophel never got over this betrayal by David and he was waiting for his opportunity to get revenge because he had harmed his family.
A root of bitterness started growing towards David
Ten years later, Ahithophel Heard of Absalom's treachery, he saw this as an opportunity to get even. Absalom tried to overthrow his father's kingdom by enlisting the help of Ahithophel.
2 Samuel 15:12. Absalom knew Ahithophel harboured bitterness with David, so he sent for him to strengthen his conspiracy.
"And Absalom sent for Ahithophel . . . to come from Giloh. And the conspiracy was strong”.
In 2 Sam. 15:31,
And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
Ahithophel had a well-deserved reputation for giving counsel almost as good as God. But in this case, his counsel was foolish and destructive. Very demonic – it was foolish and destructive, it was the advice that the devil would have given
2 Samuel 15:31 God answered David’s prayer and Ahithophel's advice was ignored.
It was motivated by bitterness. Bitterness has the power to turn the best person into a beast.
Although Ahithophel's advice would have worked, it was ignored.
2 Samuel 17:23 - Ahithophel went and committed suicide, he missed his blessings and his destiny.
People can be very hurtful intentionally or unintentionally. The wounds and pains are real and heartbreaking and sometimes the damage can be deadly and irreversible. They can really break your heart for no good reason, why? Wanadamu ni wanadamu (people are just people)even the very best.
You may not have control over what people do to you, but you have a choice as to how you respond. Your response is your choice. You can choose to forgive.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
Unforgiveness gives Satan an undue advantage in our lives, it opens up a space to work among us.
Ephesians 4:26 -27 tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger or give the devil any such foothold or opportunity. Remember that the devil must have a foothold before he can get a stronghold.
Unforgiveness, anger, and hatred are good platforms for the devil to start operating in our lives.
When we delay in forgiving we start nursing anger and soon it develops into a root of bitterness as the devil takes advantage over time.
Do not give the devil a space and help Satan torture you. Be quick to forgive.
Think about this
Forgiving is not easy but it is the best option. Forgiving the person who hurt you is hard.
Matthew 18:23-35
Remember if we do not forgive people, we get turned over to the torturers. When you forgive the person who hurt you, actually, you're helping yourself more than the other person.
It seems so unfair for a person to receive forgiveness when you have been hurt. You get pain, and they get freedom without having to pay for the pain they caused. But the reality is that living with hateful thoughts tortures you more than the one you hate.
In fact, you are happier and feel better when you forgive than being filled with the poison of unforgiveness.
Most probably you live hurting while the one who hurt you goes on with life. Hata pengine hana habari uanumia or doesn't care na unangoejea uone akiumia mpaka akuje kuomba, msamaha. (Maybe the person who hurt you is unaware and doesn't care and you are waiting for him/her to suffer until he asks for forgiveness.)
Suppose you are hit by a hit-and-run vehicle, and you are injured seriously and bleeding. Utakataa kwenda hosi mpaka whenye hiyo gari akuje. (Will you refuse to go to hospital until the owner of the vehicle arrives?) It's common sense, maisha ni yako (your life is your own). Utatafuta hosi by all means na ugharimikie matibabu (you will look for a hospital and bear the treatment cost) to save your life as the government handles the issue.
Many people ruin their health and their lives by taking the poison of bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness. You suffer more than the person who hurt you. You become his slave, unambeba (carry him/her in your heart) wherever you go. He becomes your main agenda in your life na wewe si agenda kwa maisha take (and you are not an agenda in his/her life).
Secondly, when you forgive, you are helping the other person by handing him to God so God can do true justice. When you are trying to take revenge or take control of the situation yourself God has no business dealing with that person or avenging you. And that is why sometimes they continue thriving. God has no obligation to deal with that person when you are dealing with him. However, if we trust God and choose to forgive, He will take care of the rest including healing you.
When you forgive:
You set yourself free to heal and free yourself from torture.
You released the other person for God to deal with him.
God forgive you also so you experience his fellowship and his blessings
Matthew 6
14. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Forgiveness allows you to enjoy free fellowship with God but your fellowship is hindered by unforgiveness and this hinders your blessings also.
Remember our Father can't forgive our sins if we don't forgive other people. We reap what we sow. Sow mercy, and you'll reap mercy; sow judgment, and you'll reap judgment. So do yourself a favour—and forgive. Sow a seed of forgiveness.
Forgiving is our seed of obedience to His Word. Once we've sown our seed, He is faithful to bring a harvest of blessings to us in one way or another.
Mark 11:22-26
Clearly teaches us that unforgiveness hinders our faith from working. The Father can't forgive our sins if we don't forgive other people. We reap what we sow.
Are you nursing a grudge against someone for many years?
Has a root of bitterness grown down into your soul, spreading its dangerous poison?
It’s not too late – let God take out that root of bitterness.
Don’t allow it to become a cancerous growth inside of you and kill you.
Deal with your anger now by forgiving. Don't nurse your anger it will lead to bitterness
You cannot take in poison expecting it will kill the other person, it is you who will die because you simply are committing suicide.
Conclusion
When you don't forgive you condemn yourself because you live in suffering and you deny yourself God's greatest gift of forgiveness for your sins which is the greatest blessing.
Psalms 32:1-2 Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven.
You see we shall not go to heaven because we are not without sin or we have not sinned, we will go to heaven because our sins are forgiven. When you don't forgive, you miss God's forgiveness and your sins stand. No son can enter heaven.
David sinned greatly, with adultery and murder, he enjoyed his blessing as king and went to heaven because he was forgiven.
Ahithophel refused to forgive, he lived in bitterness and died prematurely, leaving David that he hated enjoying life with Bathsheba and worse he never made it to heaven.
Utakufa uache tukifurahia maisha (You may die and leave us enjoying life).
Just think for a moment, if Ahithophel forgave, he would have had the best life ever. David married Bathsheba and they gave birth to Solomon who became the wisest king, a grandson of the wisest counsellor. Ahithophel on top of the honours he had, he would be directly included in the throne and be the most powerful blessed person with his wisest great-grandson as the king and him the wisest man as his adviser. Unfortunately due to unforgiveness, he missed all this and even more eternity. Bitterness itafanya ukose Mungu na Mbingu (Bitterness will cause you to miss God and heaven).
Matthew 18:22 Just forgive and keep forgiving. 7 times 7.
Even now forgive, just let go and let God.
Comments
Post a Comment