LightGrams
January 23, 2020
Volume 24, Number 3
About 14,000 residents of the German city of Dortmund were evacuated over the weekend, according to a story on Yahoo News. The reason for this disruption was bombs; not bombs that were about to be dropped on the town, but bombs dropped by the Allies during World War 2, more than seven decades earlier. Though the buried 550-pound bombs were old and rusted, they still had the potential to do great harm.
Events like this are not uncommon in Germany. The story listed two other recent occasions when towns or villages were evacuated upon the discovery of ordnance. Germany was one of the most contested battlefields of World War 2, and not all bombs dropped actually exploded. But they continue to have destructive potential.
A story on DW.com (April 20, 2018) summarized the challenge Germany faces: “A lot of unexploded bombs are buried in German cities, decades after WWII. And they’re getting more dangerous – not less – over time.”
Undefused bombs pose serious threats to the well-being of innocent people. That’s also true in another realm, with the explosive anger that lies within our hearts.
In 2 Samuel 13 we read of a reprehensible act: Amnon’s rape of his half-sister Tamar. Tamar’s full biological brother Absalom “spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar” (v. 22).
That rage remained bottled up inside Absalom for “two full years” (v. 23). Then, under the guise of a family feast, he invited Amnon and other siblings to a festive occasion. A signal was given during the feast and Amnon was struck down and killed. If he thought the “bomb” inside Absalom’s heart had been defused, he was wrong.
An explanation was later given to King David, father of both Amnon and Absalom, as to why this murder was committed: “For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar” (2 Samuel 13:32). Though buried deep in his heart, the bomb eventually was detonated and great loss occurred.
Jesus instructs us to defuse such bombs within us. “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment … be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:21,24). If we’re truly reconciled, there is no longer any hatred.
But how does one defuse such anger within the heart? “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). The rage within us will resurface if it is not defused.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2020, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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