Seize the Moment – Day 797

 

Get Both Sides of the Story!

2 Samuel 16

 

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, May 23.

 

Have you ever taken on the offense of another person only to find out later that the person’s version of the story was not the whole story? It is a terrible feeling to have taken someone’s side to only find out later that you should have listened to both sides of the story before making the decision to defend the person or go on the attack against the other person. King David fell into this trap when Ziba accused Mephibosheth of rebellion in 2 Samuel 16:3-4:

 

Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ” So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

 

Absalom was overthrowing his father’s throne in a military coup and David was fleeing Jerusalem. Ziba arrived with significant supplies to assist him with the escape and told David that Mephibosheth was not with him. We find out later, in 2 Samuel 19:24-30, that there was another side of the story. David’s son Solomon reflected in Proverbs 18:17, “The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.”

 

Due process is a necessary part of the law, as commanded in Deuteronomy 19:15, “on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.” Jesus commanded the need for involving others as witnesses to the process of reconciliation, in Matthew 18:16. Getting the whole story is a necessary part of making good decisions.

     

Seize the moment and get both sides of the story; be slow to make judgments.

God bless you!
 
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YOUTUBE:

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