Gospel Reflections #1098: Merely glossing over the surface to settle matters.

2 Samuel 14:21 The king said to Joab, ‘Very well, let it be so. Bring back that young man, Absalom.’

This passage marks a significant turning point, where King David officially grants permission for the return of his son, Absalom. King David commands his general, Joab, saying, ‘Very well. I have granted his request. Go and bring back that young man, Absalom.’

After murdering his half-brother Amnon, Absalom had fled into exile in Geshur, where he had been in exile for three years. David longed for Absalom, but was unable to decide between public justice and a father’s love.

Seeing this, General Joab hired a wise woman from Tekoa to tell David a fictitious parable, and succeeded in eliciting the words ‘the exiled one should be brought back’ from the king’s own mouth.

The decision David made, having seen through this ruse, is expressed in verse 21.

David forgave Absalom and allowed him to return, but even after Absalom’s return to Jerusalem, he refused to see his son’s face for two years.

This marked the beginning of an ‘imperfect reconciliation’—a decision made under the pressure of circumstances without proper dealing with sin or genuine repentance.

David was caught between his duty as a king to administer justice and his paternal affection.

Consequently, his decision to allow Absalom’s return whilst leaving the matter of public judgement unresolved would lead to further tragedy: Absalom’s subsequent rebellion.

In verse 14, the woman of Tekoa said, ‘God does not take life, and He devises ways so that those who are exiled do not remain forsaken by Him.’

However, David’s forgiveness fell far short of this standard of God’s grace.

Through this passage, the Bible contrasts human imperfect reconciliation with the necessity of complete forgiveness of sins through Christ.

Like David, when we cling to our own emotions and thoughts, we may offer forgiveness or reconciliation that is merely superficial, yet our hearts remain unsettled.

God desires us to offer forgiveness and reconciliation from the heart, yet we often resort to merely glossing over the surface to settle matters.

The path that follows is not one of peace, but one bound by tension, anxiety and guilt.

David, like us, was a weak human being; therefore, rather than seeking God, he chose to be ruled by his own emotions.

Yet God did not give up on him but remained by David’s side throughout his life.

Our God is a God who loves us with an unfailing love.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.