1 Kings 1:11-12 - Prejudice

Scripture:

1 Kings 1:11-12
11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 
12 "So now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon.
NASU


Thoughts:

There are many reasons people fall into prejudice.  Perhaps the most deceptive however, is prejudice based on a person's past failures.  For example, would it not seem natural for Nathan to have disdain for Bathsheba and secondarily to her son?  Solomon was not the son from her sin with David, nor had Solomon done any wrong, but she was the woman whose adultery with David brought violence into the royal family.  Nathan was keenly aware of all these things as the prophet who pronounced the Lord's judgment.

2 Samuel 12:7-10
7 Nathan then said to David, " You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ' It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 'I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! 9 'Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'
NASU

But Nathan shows no signs of harsh feelings towards Bathsheba.  He comes to save her and Solomon, the chosen heir of David as the Lord had spoken to David, and therefore certainly in grave danger from Adonijah:

1 Chronicles 22:9-10
9 'Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 ' He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.
NASU

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for the times I've been prejudice towards others for their past mistakes.  Truly they may no longer be automatically entitled to the trust that they once held from me, but my heart should not be hard towards them.

I'm so thankful that You don't give up on me because of my past and present failures!  Help me to give others a second chance, as well.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.