2 Samuel 19
Scripture
2 Samuel 19:6
“You love those who hate you…”
Observation
David receives the news that Absalom has died in battle. Joab informs David that his mourning is an affront to his men who risked their lives to eliminate Absalom’s threat to David’s life and throne. To encourage them, David holds court at the city gate as a show of gratitude and support. Absalom’s death means the return of the king to Jerusalem and this, depending on how one treated David while he was in exile, causes either rejoicing or terror. Instead of seizing the opportunity to exact retribution and vengeance, David chooses to forgive those who cursed him and bless those who blessed him. But the king’s return does not bring unity as the men of Judah and Israel argue over which kingdom David should rightfully rule over.
Understanding
God loves like we do not
In the midst of rebuking David for his misplaced loyalties, Joab inadvertently points out that David possesses one of the most glorious attributes of the Father. David’s love for his enemies reflects the heart of God that loves those who hate Him. He loves those who curse Him, who mock and deny Him; those who reject Him and ignore Him. He loved them so much that He sent His son to die for them and make reconciliation possible. And even when that love is spit upon, He still loves them. He doesn’t rejoice over the fact that their rebellion results in death, but mourns that they rejected all of the love that He longed to pour out to them. We so often have a picture of God that is made in our own image – a God who hates his enemies just like we do. We hate those who are sinners and rebels and lawbreakers; and think that God does too. We think that, like us, God rejoices when the bad guys “get theirs”. But wait a minute. Wasn’t that who I was when He called me out of the depravity and debauchery of my sin? I wasn’t looking for Him and certainly did not love Him when He found me. His love for me overcame my sin and made me alive when I was dead in my transgressions. He loved me when I hated Him. Didn’t I deserve to suffer the death penalty for my sin? Why do I demand wrath for them but mercy for me? How then can I be so grateful for the mercy that He to extended me and yet desire that He pour out His wrath on all those other sinners? The hypocrisy is too much to bear. God loves those who hate Him and so should I.
I will never be truly transformed until I can love as God loves.
The more I meditate on this truth, the smaller and pettier I see myself. I can hold a grudge for the slightest infraction and can hate you like I knew you “from the neighborhood”. Until I learn to love even those who hate me, curse me, talk about me behind my back and wound me, I will never be able to love others with the Father’s heart or experience the fullness of His love for me. Holy Spirit, I invite you to begin a work of conviction and healing in this heart of stone.
We love because he first loved us.