David’s life is filled with much good. He was known as a man
after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22) But there was also much tragedy in the life
of David. One of the saddest statements has to do with his relationship with
Absalom after he had killed his brother Amnon. Absalom fled to another country
and had been there three years when the Bible says, “And the spirit of the king
longed to go out to Absalom.”
What a sad statement because the clear inference is that,
though he longed for Absalom, David never reached out to Absalom. He never
sought to express his forgiveness. He never sought to restore their
relationship. His own son and he let him languish in a far country even though
in his own heart he longed to be reunited with him.
Sadly, I have seen this many times in my life as a pastor.
Situations where there is great hurt and the parties are embittered toward one
another. Often this happens within families. I have seen parents who long
for their children but in their own stubborn pride they will not reach out and
take the first step. They will not be the one to humble themselves and seek
restoration. I’ve also seen children act exactly the same way. Or friends with
friends. One of the hardest things to do for us, it seems, is to forgive when we
have been hurt deeply — — even though our heart longs for the one who hurt us. Perhaps
we could learn from the life of David and the tragic consequences that followed
that it’s definitely worth it to humble ourselves and forgive and reach out in
love to those for whom we long.
Prayer: Father, help us to remember just how much you have
forgiven us. Help us to truly know how deep was our rebellion against you and
our hurtful sin to you. Yet you forgave and reached out to us in love and grace
and mercy. Father, help us to forgive just as you have forgiven us in Christ
Jesus.
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