Restoring the Banished
The latest on the medical front is that I have stopped my prednisone dose. But our dog has started his dose. (maybe he can use some of mine that are left over) The little fella, has been in a lot of pain and is not able to walk very good. We are still waiting for a diagnosis of some kind. I did have a political meeting this afternoon and then headed to the tire shop to purchase the third set of tires within a year. I talked them into giving me a “frequent buyer” discount. I have a “newer” car and left the tires I had just purchased in January on the car we replaced.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “…The king has not brought back his own banished one. We will certainly die and be like water poured out on the ground, which can’t be recovered. But God would not take away a life; He would devise plans so that the one banished from Him does not remain banished.” 2 Samuel 14:13-14 HCSB
It has happened all too many times. A parent dealing with a rebellious older teen or young adult, perhaps one who is abusing drugs, utters those words, “get out!” It may not be just out of anger or frustration, but in an attempt to save other children in the family and even the rebellious one himself.
In other situations it is the child that utters the words, “I’m out of here!” They chafe under the rules of the house, they feel they want more control of their life and decisions and so they choose to leave home.
However it happens, it creates hardship and pain for all involved. That is why the words of the “woman of Tekoa” are so striking for families today. Absalom, David’s son had been alienated from his father for five years. Three years in the land of Geshur and two years in Jerusalem. How did it happen?
One of David’s son, Amnon raped Absalom’s sister, Tamar. David knew about, he was “furious” but that is all we know of his actions. When David did not act, Absalom did. At the right opportunity Absalom took matters into his owns hands and had Amnon killed. Absalom ran away to the home of his mother.
We don’t know what was going on in David’s mind. We read that “he longed for Absalom” but he didn’t do anything. He did allow him to return to Jerusalem, but refused to see him. Finally, Absalom forced General Joab to come up with a plan to get to see the King. The story of the plan and final words of this “wise woman” are found in 2 Samuel 14:1-14.
Regardless of how it happens. Regardless of who is at fault and the actions that have taken place and the words that have been spoken; the heart of God is focused on restoration. When we fail to understand that and refuse to take action, soon life will be over and then it will be too late. It will be like “water spilled on the ground.”
The Bible says that all of us at one point lived alienated from relationship with God the Father. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” (Isaiah 53:6) We all in our own ways have been prodigals. Doing our own thing and not God’s. Enjoying “the pleasures of sin for a season.” Living in the pig pen of life and not the comforts and provisions of the Father.
That is why God sent His Son, so He could restore all the alienated and banished sons and daughters of the King. Peter writes and says, “…He [God] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.“ (2 Peter 3:9 NIV) The Lord has done all the work, He is just waiting for His children to come home, “…everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.“ (John 3:16 NIV)
The spiritual restoration that we see in the work of Christ is to take place in the personal and family relationships in our life. It is easy to become comfortable with, “that’s just the way it is!” But the words of the “woman of Tekoa” were, “God devises plans.” He takes action, He is proactive. He initiates. He does not wait until we say, “I was wrong, you were right.” Paul put in these words, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“ (Romans 5:8 NIV)
It is not easy. The challenge is great. But with the Lord’s help, who made a way for us to be reconcile to Him; He can make a way for us to be reconciled to others.