Forgiveness Is Work!

Then Joab came to Absalom at his house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” And Absalom replied, “Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me.” So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him. [2 Samuel 14.31-33]

After David's affair with Bathsheba, David's family began to fall apart. Amnon's rape of Tamar, Absalom's revenge, and here, Absalom's eventual (albeit short-lived) "reconciliation" with David all can be traced back to David's sin.

I want to look today at this "reconciliation" for face value. As future reading will reveal, Absalom will rebel against his father David. So, the reconciliation between the two was only limited at best.

Forgiveness is work. Forgiveness requires constant effort to extinguish the emotions of having been betrayed, hurt, etc... 

As we have seen today in Joab's attempt to foster reconciliation between David and Absalom, a third party cannot make forgiveness happen. The very fact that Joab arranged for the David and Absalom to "reconcile" is proof positive that third-party reconciliation doesn't work. At best, it is a thin facade that only appears good for a limited time as it is not one hundred percent genuine.

Is it even possible to have one hundred percent forgiveness and reconciliation? Good question! Even if it is not possible, it is still worth the work to try.

Father, help us to forgive and seek reconciliation...