Learning about Jesus. Learning about the value system of God.
“Love God, love your neighbor,” – Luke 10:25-37 Jesus flips the script on “Who is my neighbor?” to focus on helping others, with his story set in a racialized setting.
“Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.” – Luke 6:27
“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!” – Luke 6:32
God said that David was, “a man after my own heart.” – 1 Samuel 13:14 Acts 13:22
In 2 Samuel 13, David’s son Absalom kills his half brother Amnon, who had raped his sister Tamar.
A woman of wisdom from Tekoa, appeals to David for a reconciliation with Absalom. “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
David saw wisdom in recognizing God’s value system on reconciliation.
This is in contrast to the foolishness of revenge that David saw in his wars. Abner (who was Saul’s general) says to Joab (who was David’s general) “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result?” – 2 Samuel 2:26
David was not perfect. His decisions were the cause of some of the bloodshed.
David had an immoral affair. – 2 Samuel 11:1-5
David committed murder to cover it up. – 2 Samuel 11:6-27
David had to be confronted by Nathan to confess his sin. – 2 Samuel 12.
David showed the heart of God by repeatedly mourning the death of someone who tried to kill him. – 2 Samuel 1 3:31-39
David did not go after people who were cursing him. 2 Samuel 16:5-14
“The king gave this order: ‘Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.’ So Absalom did not see the king.” – 2 Samuel 14:24
David called his son Absalom to be reconciled, but refuses to see him instead of keeping him at arm’s length. – 2 Samuel 14:25-33 As a result Absalom rebels, is crowned king, and David runs away. – 2 Samuel 15
Absalom is then killed by Joab. – 2 Samuel 18:1-18
David mourns the death of Absalom. “I wish it had been me.” – 2 Samuel 18:19-33
David learns from this and no longer keeps people at arm’s length, but brings even people formerly associated with his enemies in close. – 2 Samuel 19
Peter learned about God’s value system from Jesus directly. He said, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” – 2 Peter 3:9
What do we learn?
1. God wants us to be reconciled to Him, through our faith in Jesus.
2. God wants us to be reconciled to each other.
Apology – this is what I did that was wrong ___, this is the harm it caused ___, I am sorry, I make a commitment to never do it again, please forgive me. How can I make this right?
If we value relational reconciliation our world will become better.