This past week I read an article on a news website that really started me thinking, especially in light of some of this past week’s daily readings from our Chronological Read the Bible Through Plan. The article dealt with a dentist from Poland who had recently been dumped by her boyfriend. Although there probably is much more to the dumping than the article told it seems that the lady dentist was not too happy with how she had been treated by her ex. However, she told herself to be professional when he scheduled an appointment with her for a toothache he was experiencing. Unfortunately for this jilting lover his ex could not contain her emotions once she saw him lying in her dental chair. She proceeds to give him a heavy dose of anesthetic and removes not just the aching tooth but all of his teeth. Afterwards she wraps his jaw heavily with bandages and sends him home with the advice you now need to see a specialist. The man said, he knew something was afoul when the numbness began to wear off at home and he could not feel any of his teeth. On two side notes, the dumped dentist face charges of medical malpractice and the leaping lover’s new girlfriend broke up with him saying I can’t date a man without any teeth!
Now I must confess the sadistic side of me finds this story rather humorous in a twisted sort of way but as a Christian I ask myself a few questions. First, while I might not have gone to this extent to let someone know how they had hurt me, what would I have done? How would I have reacted or treated them. Secondly, even if I had not acted improperly, would my heart have been pure towards them? Would I have had malice, bitterness, hatred, or disdain in my heart? Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount that if we hold anger in our hearts toward someone we stand in judgment before God just as the one who has committed murder. Too often we act out improperly or hold grudges in our hearts when someone has said improper things toward us, talked about us behind our backs, or simple slighted us. However, Jesus commanded us to turn the other cheek when offended but often that is hard to do. I remember the words to a popular song several years ago by Christian artist Steve Camp which said, “It’s hard to turn the other cheek when the cheek is already bruised.” Ouch!
Along the lines of this notion of refusing to give into retaliation versus forgiveness one of the readings earlier this week from our Bible Plan told the story of how King David treated Absalom when this young man, who was also David’s son, led an insurrection against him to the point of trying to kill his father. However, the revolt did not fare well for Absalom for during one of the battles while riding his mule through an orchard of trees he got suspended by his head from a tree. One of David’s mighty men named Joab went to the helpless Absalom and thrust three spears in his side killing him. When news of this thwarting of the insurrection by the killing of Absalom reached David he did not rejoice in his safety nor did he even hint of a thought such as, “That will show anyone who tries to come against the king.” Instead, scripture records in 2 Samuel 18:33 that the king was deeply moved and went to the gate chamber and wept. David was stricken with grief in that his son, though his enemy, was killed. Later in the same verse David laments that he wishes that he had been killed rather than Absalom.
My prayer is that I too would have the heart of compassion and benevolence which David displayed when he was faced with dilemma of revenge or forgiveness. David did not seek restitution; in fact, he did not want harm to Absalom he wanted restoration. This week if you are faced with a situation where you must choose between forgiveness or anger and hatred ask God to give you a spirit of kindness toward all people.
In His Son,
Pastor Ric
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