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(weekly I write a five minute “doctrine talk” based on the doctrine in the passage of scripture we are studying in “People of the Promised Land 1 – Bible Study Fellowship”)
Reconciliation Defined: describes a work by which parties who are at odds are made one with each other once again.
King David sought peace and unity over power and victory therefore we see reconciliation.
As we read through 2 Samuel 1-4 we see several occasions where David humbled himself, trusted God for His timing in him being king over all Israel without manipulation or self-promotion. We see in 2 Samuel 2:1 David asking the Lord “what’s next, where do you want me to go?” This right after 2 Samuel 1:17-27 where David laments for Saul and Jonathan. He said things such as “Saul and Jonathan—in life they were loved and admired in verse 23 (wait…I understand that about Jonathan but didn’t Saul try to kill you, several times?) Then he respectfully cries “Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold, in verse 24. At the end he proclaims in verse 27 “How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!” David’s heart is clear here, he sought peace and unity over power and victory. Shouldn’t he have been saying. Woohoo! Saul is dead…gimmie the crown!? No. that’s what I would’ve been saying. He was willing to surrender to God’s plan and timing, always looking for reconciliation.
Then we see this same heart that desires reconciliation over personal power with the men of Jabesh Gilead. If you remember these men were loyal to Saul because he had rescued them from the Ammonites. They were “Saul’s guys”. David recognized the brave actions of these men to retrieve the bodies of Saul and Jonathan and bring them back for proper burial. “He sent messengers to them to say “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 2 Samuel 2:4-6.
And the last example…reconciliation with Abner (Saul’s Commanding officer). When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. 2 Samuel 3:20-21
I am not sure if Abner came with selfish motives but regardless, David accepted the gesture of peace and now Israel and Judah were united.
We can say “atta boy David, good job, proud of you”, but can you imagine how hard all of those instances must have been? Yes you can because you may have similar that has happened in your life.
Reconciliation with others often involves dying to self.
What expectations of others have you had to let go of so that you are willing and able to forgive?
Because of God’s great grace and mercy towards us, He reconciled us to Him and can empower us to do the same for others.
Chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians reminds us that God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” Here’s the message we are to proclaim through our life “Be reconciled to God!”
Quick personal story if I may: Every year for about 15 years I have picked a word for the year. You may have heard about this. Basically, in December I begin to pray for one word that God wants me to focus on for the year. I took this very seriously. I really sought God for the word and would not tell anyone until I had several confirmations through prayer, scripture and others that it was the word. One year, at the end of 2008 to be specific, I prayed and God had given me this word “reconcile”. I will be honest, I didn’t understand it at the time. My husband and I had been separated for 7 years and the end of 2008 marked a full year of that reconciliation so I thought I was a little late with the word but I really felt like this was it.
It wasn’t until on March 8, 2009, 3 months into focusing on the word Reconcile God gave me a greater and deeper meaning. That’s the day my husband got on his motorcycle, left for work as a FF and was killed by a drunk driver. God’s message to me with the word reconcile was so much bigger. The reconciliation of my family was wonderful but what really mattered was James’ full reconciliation to God.
2 Cor 5:20. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
There was much glory for God in our reconciled marriage but a greater glory in James being now completely and fully reconciled to God.
You are Christ’s ambassador. The dictionary definition of ambassador is: an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
1 Peter reminds us that we are aliens, foreigners, exiles, we are not of this world. We have been commissioned as official representatives of heaven. Be faithful sisters, be reconciled to God then be His ambassador as a representative of heaven.