Teach Me To Repent

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. [2 Samuel 14.14]

The statement above was made by the wise woman from Tekoa commissioned by Joab to convince David to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem.

What does it mean?

It seems clear that the statement above is saying that sin and its curse makes us like water spilled on dirt - irrecoverable, like death.

"But God..." in the context of the statement, would indicate that the sin-and-curse condition of man is NOT God's will. Instead, God wishes to recover the irrecoverable ("For God so loved the world..." John 3.16). 

To accomplish the recovery of the "water spilled out on the ground," God "devises ways to bring us back..." Can you say, "turn us around" - REPENT!

The recovery is renewed fellowship with God. That which was separated from God is restored to Him. Therein is a clear picture of Jesus!

Is it any wonder then, that Jesus began His ministry with these words:

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]

How cool is that?

Father, thank You for allowing me to see more in Your Word every day. May there be no separation be between us! Teach me to repent so that I might believe!