 Forgiveness on the Installment Plan John G. Reisinger
Read II Samuel 13 & 14 for background material. In chapter 13, we read that Amnon, one of David's sons, raped his half-sister, Tamar. Tamar was Absalom's full sister. David was furious, but Absalom never said a word. Later Absalom got Amnon drunk and had his servants kill him. Absalom then fled the city. 2 Sam. 13:38-39 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon's death. Chapter 14 records a plan by Joab, the commander and chief of David's army, to get Absalom back to Jerusalem. Joab sends a woman dressed in deep mourning to see David. She tells David that she had two sons and one son had accidentally killed the second son. The family wanted to kill the first son. David swears to protect the boy and says, "Not one hair of the head of your son shall fall to the ground." The woman then shows David his own inconsistency. 2 Sam. 14:12-13 Then the woman said, "Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king." "Speak," he replied. The woman said, "Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son?" The woman said, "Does not God make a way for the banished to return? Why not Absalom?" It is true that Absalom did not accidentally have Amnon killed, but the woman's point is still valid. The King smelled a rat and immediately recognized the hand of Joab. 2 Sam 14:19-20 The king asked, "Isn't the hand of Joab with you in all this." The woman answered, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God-- he knows everything that happens in the land." David got the message. 2 Sam 14:21-24 The king said to Joab, "Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom." Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor, and he blessed the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant's request." Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. But the king said, "He must go to his own house; he must not see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king. I titled this "forgiveness on the installment plan" since David's action was not really full forgiveness and restoration. Absalom could live in the city but not be in the King's presence. He could not have lunch at the palace nor gather with the rest of the family. Absalom soon resented the situation and sent message after message to Joab and asked Joab to come visit him. Joab knew what Absalom wanted, but apparently was not interested in helping Absalom any more. Joab ignored Absalom's appeals. Finally Absalom had his servants set Joab's barley field on fire and that got Joab's attention. 2 Sam. 14:31-33 Then Joab did go to Absalom's house and he said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?" Absalom said to Joab, "Look, I sent word to you and said, 'Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, "Why have I come from Geshur" It would be better for me if I were still there!' 'Now then, I want to see the king's face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death." So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom. Forgiveness on the installment plan does not work! There is no heart-felt assurance of forgiveness until we see the King's face. The prodigal son in Luke 15 would not have settled for the word of a servant or even the word of his brother. He longed to see his Father's face. Forgiveness that does not bring true and total reconciliation is not really forgiveness. |