So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring his banished one home again. For we shall surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again.” (v.14)
Here the woman of Tekoa speaks boldly to David, confronting his sin of not initiating reconciliation with Absalom. Because he was estranged from David and growing more and more bitter, Absalom was a threat to Israel and David allowed it (Why then have you schemed such a thing against the people of God?). She also speaks wisely to David about the urgency of reconciliation. “David, we all die and then the opportunity for reconciliation is over. Do it now. Find a way to do it, David. God finds a way to bring us back to Himself.”
It is true that God finds a way – but not at the expense of justice. God reconciles us by satisfying justice, not by ignoring justice. David had some responsibility to initiate reconciliation. If David approached Absalom, he might be rejected, but he still had the responsibility to try. Yet as king and chief judge of Israel, he also had a responsibility to both initiate reconciliation and to do it the right way. David will not succeed in this.
This reminds us to settle our own family issues quickly and not allow lost opportunities to slip past us. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 18, we are to go to that person and make things right. And as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from us with all speed. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven us” (vv.31-32).
God wants his children to reconcile, not carry bitterness in our hearts to the grave. Therefore, make the most of your opportunities while you can and choose to live in love and forgiveness, not just with family, but with all men as much as possible.
The Truth: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians 3:12-14)
