Step 9 Devotional: Keeping Our Promises
Making amends for the wrongs that we’ve done is important.
However, don’t forget about the good that we have promised to do but never did.
Back in Step 7 Devotional, we talked about how the last several steps in recovery shift perspective. The first several steps focus on repairing a relationship with yourself and with God while the latter steps focus on building your relationships with others. While both mindsets are challenging in their own way. However, we tend to have a firmer grasp on the latter due to it already being so commonplace in our everyday life. But there’s more to rebuilding relationships with those around us while in recovery than there normally is outside of recovery.
We tend to think of making amends as direct actions towards another person to make up for direct wrongs done to them in the past. However, there’s another side to the idea of making amends. Sometimes, we have to make up for the unintentional neglect we’ve done towards a person. Sometimes, we have to come back to them and keep the promises that we made to them. These promises could simply be to not use. They can also be as complex and personal as helping a friend pay for property damage related to the consequences of your addiction.
Published
10/17/2022
Category
Faith
Step 9 of Recovery
We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
This account in 2 Samuel is a powerful example of keeping forgotten promises. Most people know of King David from the tale where he slung a single stone at Goliath and killed him. However, there is a lot more to David that most don’t know unless they read the bible. God told the prophet Samuel that David was to be the “redeeming” king for Israel when he was just a small boy. That’s where the tale of the famous battle of David and Goliath comes about. David’s successful “mind over might” strategy reinforced the idea of David as this savior king. As awesome as that sounds, it did not go well for David.
You see, the current king of Israel at the time, Saul, naturally did not react kindly to this idea. Saul attempted to kill David, but Saul’s son, Johnathan, who had developed a close, brotherly friendship with David, helped his friend escape his father’s clutches. This led to a (roughly estimated) 8 year period of Saul seeking to kill David and David hiding out in the wilderness. Jonathan frequently visited David and helped him against his father’s will. After David reveals to Saul that he had the opportunity to kill him in secret while he was vulnerable, but had the character and integrity not to, Saul realized his evil heart and willingly gave David the throne.
“Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.”
2 Samuel 9:7-9
Because of their strong friendship, David made a promise to Jonathan that his future family would still receive royal favor after he became king. But you know how it goes, David gained the throne and was immediately thrown into all the politics and war of it all and forgot his promise to Jonathan. Years later, David eventually did remember his promise, and sought out Jonathan’s family. By this time, Jonathan was dead and the only person left to benefit was his son, Mephibosheth. Here’s the real kicker. In the years of the promise being known but unfulfilled, Mephibosheth grew to fear that David actually held the family in disdain because of what his grandfather Saul had done.
Mephibosheth thought the worst of David due to this unkept promise, so much so that he thought he was going to be killed. How many of us can relate to this? How many people live in the shadow of fear, hurt, and despair because of the promises that we have yet to keep and fulfill? Today is as good a day as any to make amends and keep our promises. Who do you need to reach out to and fulfill promises made to them? How can you start to change the perspective and direction in your life and the lives of the people around you now that you have the sober mind to do so?
Conclusion
Key takeaways
- There’s more to repairing relationships than just making up for the bad things we’ve done.
- Making amends is also about keeping our promises.
- David was fatally pursued by Saul for years but Saul’s son Jonathan continually helped David escape.
- Because of their friendship, David promised to treat Jonathan’s family fondly.
- Due to David not keeping his promise, Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth thought that David changed his mind.
- Keeping our promises after all these years will help to change the course of our relationships.
Challenge
Apply to your life
Take an hour this week to read 2 Samuel 9. If you’re up for it, read both books of Samuel. Meditate and pray on what you read. Read, pray, and meditate on the promises that you made to the people in your life. No matter how long it’s been, how can you work to keep those promises to them?
Conclusion
Key takeaways
- There’s more to repairing relationships than just making up for the bad things we’ve done.
- Making amends is also about keeping our promises.
- David was fatally pursued by Saul for years but Saul’s son Jonathan continually helped David escape.
- Because of their friendship, David promised to treat Jonathan’s family fondly.
- Due to David not keeping his promise, Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth thought that David changed his mind.
- Keeping our promises after all these years will help to change the course of our relationships.
Challenge
Apply to your life
Take an hour this week to read 2 Samuel 9. If you’re up for it, read both books of Samuel. Meditate and pray on what you read. Read, pray, and meditate on the promises that you made to the people in your life. No matter how long it’s been, how can you work to keep those promises to them?
Ty Walker
Ty Walker is a contract copywriter and graphic designer with a huge heart for recovery. He has spent the last five years serving churches and recovery communities with his creative skills. Ty spends his free time writing poetry and fictional short stories as well as hiking, biking, and kayaking with his wife, Angie, and his two daughters, Winter and Ember.
Credit where credit is due
This article was inspired by The Life Recovery Bible presented by Tyndale Publishing. If you would like to check out additional recovery articles, videos, and podcast episodes, check us out at artisticrecovery.org.
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