In 2 Samuel 9 David actively searched for someone from his former enemy’s family that he could bless.
David never forgot his oath of loyalty to Saul’s son, Johnathon even though it was made long ago.
In doing this, David walked out one of Christ’s commands before He ever shared them. In Luke 6:27-28 Jesus directed His followers on how to deal with their enemies. He shared; “I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Look at Jesus’s words; “love”, “do good”, “bless”, and “pray for”. These are all action words. Christ’s heart was not idle words, He longed for us to actively bless those who had wronged us.
David looked beyond the wrongs done to him by Saul to openly, publically bless his relatives and to invite them into relationship. Thankfully, that’s exactly what God did for us; He looked beyond our sins and failures, invited us into relationship with Him and He’s calling us TODAY to look beyond and bless as well.
Jesus continued in verses 35-36 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
I wonder who might be lurking from our distant (or not so distant) past that God would have us openly, publically bless even though they’ve hurt or treated us unfairly.
Don’t delay, ask Him today who it should be and how it should look.
Pastor Sandy