May 7, 2012 (2 Samuel 13-14; Matthew 24)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.” 2 Samuel 14:2 NLT
Observation: Absalom had avenged the rape of his sister Tamar by killing the rapist, his brother Amnon. After killing Amnon, Absalom fled to Geshur and stayed there for three years. Joab arranged for a woman that had a reputation of great wisdom to go to the King with a plan to reconcile Absalom to him. When the king heard her made up story and agreed to grant her request unto her, she ask him this question, “why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me?” She went on to say, “You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son. All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, He devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from Him”
Application: Although many may come to us with a reputation of great wisdom, we should always seek God before making any commitments of reconciliation. It may seem like a good and right thing to be reconciled to estranged loved ones, but often times it only leads to more heartache and pain. True reconciliation only comes with true repentance, and true repentance only comes with real remorse. God does not just sweep our broken lives away, He devises ways to bring us back to Him. The first step in reconcilation is repentance, only through repentance can we really understand the love God has for us. Only by the leading of His Spirit can we understand what is a really good or bad decision.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday. Thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Help me Lord understand how to deal with the sins of my past. Help me clearly see what is best. Work in the hearts of my sons and keep them from repeating my mistakes. Heal the wounds of betrayal and restore according to Your will, in Jesus name, Amen!