The Well
The Well |
|
Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Wednesday
June 4, 2008
Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom...
Then Joab went to
Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. But the king gave this order:
"Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence." So
Absalom did not see the king...
So Joab told the king what Absalom had said.
Then at last David summoned his estranged son, and Absalom came and bowed low
before the king, and David kissed him.
2 Samuel 14:1, 23-24,
33
Human beings are really strange creatures aren't we? Well, it was true even in the old Bible days. Joab is David's right hand man and if anyone knew the king's heart, it was Joab. So, he concocted a huge scheme to get them back together. At one point he just knew all of his scheming was paying off. David sent for Absalom, but when this estranged son came back to town ¾ David refused to see him. (Quite a contrast to the story of the prodigal son isn't it?)
Then, Absalom begins to think it is Joab's fault that his father refuses to have a relationship with him. So, Absalom decides to set Joab's field on fire. At last Joab convinced David to meet with Absalom and after about a five-year period father and son finally meet again.
Unforgiveness is a horrible thing, not just to the person who needs the forgiveness, but also to the one who can't forgive. Bitterness sets in and keeps a person from being free to feel. Instead, we become numb to just about everything around us and in the process we become entirely self-centered. This often leads to substance abuse so we can feel ¾ something ¾ at least.
God created our emotions for a reason. He didn't want us to simply exist ¾ God wants us to experience life to the max. When we walk in the light of his love and forgiveness we are no longer numb; we are able, as Sandi Patty sings, to "feel the sun again."
All the water that has gone under the bridge in this story has washed away ¾ emotions and time. However, more damage has been done than is seen right now. The same may be true in our lives. We need to face the truth, forgive the wrongs, and feel the sun.
Heavenly Father, I praise you and thank you that you are not like King David. No matter what I have done, when I come to you I find your arms open wide ready to forgive me and receive me into your presence. Lord, I pray that you will help me keep this lesson close to my heart. Help me not keep people who have wronged me at such a distance that they begin to lose their very minds. Help me Father to turn to you and allow you to forgive through me. Like the old song says so beautifully, "I need Thee every hour most precious Lord." Hold me close and don't let me go even when I try to turn away.
