2 Samuel 14:23-33: a reflection

23So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24The king said, “Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn’t see the king’s face. 25Now in all Israel there was no one to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty. From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no defect in him. 26When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight. 27Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman with a beautiful face. 28Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and he didn’t see the king’s face. 29Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. Then he sent again a second time, but he would not come. 30Therefore he said to his servants, “Behold, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 31Then Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” 32Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still. Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”’” 33So Joab came to the king and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.

When Absalom is at last allowed back to Jerusalem, his reconciliation with his father is only half-done: he is brought near, but not allowed to see the king's face, and this partial restoration leaves him restless and longing for full reconciliation. Let him return to his own house, the king said, but let him not see my face. And Absalom, brought back yet held at a distance for two years, finally longs to see the king's face fully, saying in effect, why have I come, if I cannot see his face? A half-reconciliation, near but not fully restored, left him unsatisfied, longing for the full restoration of seeing the king's face. This reflects the restlessness of a partial reconciliation and the longing for full restoration. Half-reconciliation, near but not fully restored, leaves us longing. Being near but not fully restored is not enough. We long for full restoration, to see the king's face. Partial reconciliation leaves a restless longing for more.

Notice the incompleteness of this reconciliation and the longing it left. Absalom was brought back from exile, allowed to return to Jerusalem; in a sense, he was restored. But it was only half a reconciliation: he could not see the king's face, was held at a distance, near but not truly welcomed back. And this half-restoration did not satisfy him; after two years, he longed to see the king's face, to have the reconciliation completed, the distance removed. A partial reconciliation, being near but not fully restored, left a restless longing for the full restoration of seeing the king's face. This speaks, by way of contrast, to what God offers us. We can settle for a distant, partial relationship with God, near in some sense but not fully restored, kept at a distance; and such a half-reconciliation cannot finally satisfy. But God does not hold us at a distance as David held Absalom; in Christ, God offers us full reconciliation, welcoming us fully into his presence, to see his face, not held at arm's length. We are not meant to settle for a distant, partial relationship with God, but to know the full restoration he offers, coming fully into his presence. God offers full reconciliation, not a distant half-restoration. Do not settle for being near God at a distance; know full restoration. In Christ we are fully welcomed into God's presence, not held at arm's length. God brings us fully near, to see his face.

That is worth taking to heart, for God offers us not a distant, partial reconciliation but full restoration, welcoming us fully into his presence, unlike the half-reconciliation that left Absalom longing. We can settle for a distant relationship with God, near in some sense but not fully restored, kept at arm's length; and such a half-reconciliation cannot satisfy, as Absalom's did not. But in Christ God offers full reconciliation, bringing us fully near to see his face. Do not settle for a distant, partial relationship with God; know the full restoration he offers in Christ. Do not settle for a distant, partial relationship with God, near in some sense but held at arm's length, but know the full reconciliation he offers, welcoming you fully into his presence, unlike the half-reconciliation that left Absalom, brought back to Jerusalem yet not allowed to see the king's face for two years, restless and longing to see the king's face fully; for a partial reconciliation, being near but not truly restored, cannot finally satisfy, as it did not satisfy Absalom, but God does not hold us at a distance as David held his son, offering us in Christ a full reconciliation that welcomes us fully into his presence, to see his face and not be held at arm's length, so that we are not meant to settle for a distant, partial relationship with God but to know the full restoration he offers, coming fully near to him in Christ.

Lord, when Absalom is at last allowed back to Jerusalem, his reconciliation with his father is only half-done: he is brought near, but not allowed to see the king's face, and this partial restoration leaves him restless and longing for full reconciliation. Let him return to his own house, the king said, but let him not see my face. And Absalom, brought back yet held at a distance for two years, finally longs to see the king's face fully. A half-reconciliation, near but not fully restored, left him unsatisfied. This reflects the restlessness of a partial reconciliation and the longing for full restoration. Show me the incompleteness of this reconciliation and the longing it left. Absalom was brought back from exile; in a sense, he was restored. But it was only half a reconciliation: he could not see the king's face, was held at a distance, near but not truly welcomed back. And this did not satisfy him; he longed to see the king's face, to have the reconciliation completed. This speaks, by way of contrast, to what you offer me. I can settle for a distant, partial relationship with you, near in some sense but not fully restored, kept at a distance; and such a half-reconciliation cannot finally satisfy. But you do not hold me at a distance as David held Absalom; in Christ, you offer me full reconciliation, welcoming me fully into your presence, to see your face, not held at arm's length. Take that to my heart, for you offer me not a distant, partial reconciliation but full restoration. Keep me from settling for a distant relationship with you, near but held at arm's length; help me know the full reconciliation you offer in Christ, Lord, welcoming me fully into your presence to see your face, and bringing me fully near to you rather than leaving me restless at a distance.