Covered By Love

Covered by Love

The Woman In Bahurim

Read: 2 Samuel 17:15-22

During World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her family used their home as a hiding place for Jews and other people targeted by the Nazi regime. The underground activities of the ten Boom family and their friends saved the lives of an estimated eight hundred Jews and many Dutch Resistance workers. When the Nazis arrested the family in 1944, they suspected that Jews were hiding in the house but were unable to find them. Forty-seven hours later, Resistance workers rescued six people who were hiding behind a false wall in Corrie’s bedroom.

A woman in Bahurim saved King David’s life by hiding two men who were taking him a crucial message. Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been sent to warn David that his son Absalom planned to attack. When a boy spotted them, the two messengers escaped to the village of Bahurim, where a man hid them in a well. The man’s wife covered the top with a cloth and spread grain on it to dry in the sun so that it would be overlooked as a possible hiding place. Because of her quick thinking and willingness to help, David escaped into the wilderness.

Most of us would be willing to hide an innocent person from danger if it were in our power to do so. Yet we often find it difficult to do something as simple as overlooking another person’s faults. The Bible urges believers to treat one another with respect and love, and thus to cover one another’s sins. Although sin must sometimes be exposed and dealt with, many problems are caused by our simple lack of patience with one another. Rather than cling to petty annoyances, God wants us to love in such a way that we forgive others’ mistakes. And covering another person’s faults with our love is a true heroic act.

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8