David faced a conundrum. He loved his son Absalom. But because Absalom had murdered his brother Amnon for raping his sister Tamar, Absalom was exiled from Israel.
Yet, in 2 Samuel 13:39, it says,
And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death.
How to balance justice and mercy. It was unfortunately something David never did figure out.
At Joab’s urging, he allowed Absalom back in Israel yet refused to let Absalom see his face.
This in turn led to further resentment on Absalom’s part, as he told David through Joab, “I might as well still be in exile.” (2 Samuel 14:32)
Finally, David did reconcile himself to Absalom. But at a cost. Justice never was served.
God too faced a conundrum. He loved us, but like Absalom, we were exiled from him because of our sin. How could he reconcile his love for us and his holiness? How could he reconcile justice and mercy?
God loved us so much, that he found a way. I love the words of the woman that Joab sent to David.
Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die.
But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him. (2 Samuel 14:14)
And God’s way to restore our relationship with him came through the cross of Christ. Two thousand years ago, Jesus came to this earth, and died on the cross to take the punishment for our sin.
Peter wrote,
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18)
By Jesus taking the punishment for our sin, justice was served. And now mercy is shown to anyone who will receive it.
John writes,
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
Have you received God’s mercy and forgiveness?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 