Reconciliation

Returning From Lo Debar – Part One

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Returning From Lo-Debar – Part One

And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 2 Samuel 9:3-4 ESV

Before David was the king of Israel, he served in King Saul’s army and became a well-loved figure in the king’s court (That is well loved by everyone except Saul.) Not long after David killed Goliath, Saul’s son Jonathan became David’s closest friend. Then when things fell apart and David found himself running for his life, Jonathan came to his defense. That is when they made promises to each other to always be friends, though sadly, things didn’t work out as they had planned. They never had the chance to be best men at each other’s weddings or to do any of the things that friends do, because Jonathan was killed in battle, trying to defend his father when a neighboring nation invaded. In fact, the situation was worse than just a defeat in battle. The invaders also killed every one of Jonathan’s family members they could find.  But, after David had mourned, he remembered his promise to always take care of Jonathan’s family. That is how we come upon the scene of today’s conversation. David discovered that there was one child left, a young man named Mephibosheth who lived in the Biblical boondocks, in a town named Lo Debar.

Now might say, “That’s sort of interesting, but what does it have to do with me?” And the answer is, “Everything!” You see Lo Debar was not just a town in Hicksville. Lo Debar was also the scene of the defeat of Saul’s once mighty army and the place of Jonathan’s death. Talk about being in a depressing, hopeless and bitter spot: well Lo Debar sure fits the bill. Now it just might be that as we are entering a New Year that you look back and can only remember the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship or a moral failure. In fact, that place of pain may still be so powerful that you have bought a house there and moved in!

But the good news in that You are not forgotten by the King! Not content just to hear about you, God is sending you an invitation to return. Lo Debar is not your home. Last year might have been a horrible mess, but God has something way better for the future. He has sent you an invitation, but you have to open the envelope and read His promise. Are you ready to start packing? Lo Debar might be your address today, but Jesus has a place prepared for you that is better than anything you can possibly imagine!

The Prayer Investment

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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In this is all the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

Most of us have learned and pay at least lip service to the golden rule. Maybe a parent quoted this one day when we were tussling over a toy with our brothers or in a dispute with another kid on the bus. The doing unto others part is thought of as some kind of good or bad karma that will somehow show up one day in our life.

But though the doing good idea that Jesus was teaching does have a general application it is interesting to note that He mentions it here in reference to prayer. It comes right after talking about how our heavenly father give good gifts for those who ask. I wonder how often we have stopped and wondered if others (especially those we aren’t getting along with) care enough to pray for us. I find this really hits home in family relationships because to honest those are the most challenging in my life. It’s a lot easier praying for missionaries, starving children and the president than it is to intercede for a family member we just had an argument with over the phone. And heated words often lead to cold stone walls that separate us from each other for years.

Of course reconciliation is the ultimate goal of God but maybe the best first step begins with an investment of prayer. Maybe as we put aside our hurts and desires and simply pray for an offended brother or sister, mom or dad a seed is being planted by the Holy Spirit in their hearts. A harvest of restored love in a family matters far more than proving who is right or wrong in an argument. And what can make happen reconciliation faster than when we both begin to pray for one another. Prayer is the hidden investment we make in the lives of others that will yield a harvest of love by the grace and power of God one day.

Reconciled

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But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. Genesis 33:4

You might have heard the question about what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Let me say that for those of us who have raised boys – we know that answer!. We who have pleaded or even demanded our sons to: “Just be nice to each other!” or asked; “Can’t you two get along for five minutes?”

A Rare and peaceful monet

this scene of reconciliation between Jacob and his brother Esau is a greater miracle than even walking on water. These guys had lied, cheated, and tricked one another and in Esau’s case even plotted the murder of his brother. Our son’s battles evidenced by assorted holes in walls, a broken door and angry accusations flying across our home seem mild by comparison. But we have also been blessed to live long enough to see these same guys giving each other cars; sharing their homes when divorce came knocking on the door and most importantly learning to listen to one another.

In light of the current chaos in America today we can draw hope from the reconciliation of these radically different brothers. It took a crisis to force them to finally focus; not on what separated them but on remembering that they were family. As family God is calling for us to meet together for embracing not injuring; weeping not shouting and forgiving as God has freely forgiven anyone who kneels where the ground is level at the foot of the cross.