Reconciliation that reflects God's heart

The desire the reflect God

I want to honour God with my words and my actions. I want my actions to be a reflection of the heart of God.

And you know what, I think almost all Christians would say something similiar. If we’re being honest, I think we would have to say that our words and actions don’t always honour him or reflect his heart, but it is our desire. That being said, what is at the heart of God?

It’s one thing to say you want to reflect the heart of God, but that implies we know what the heart of God is.

So how do we know what’s at the heart of God?

Well, this is why it is such a privilege to have the Bible - because the bible is the story of God revealing himself to us.

As we read through the bible, God is not just some mystical far off being that we can only speculate about, rather we find someone who has lovingly revealed himself.

And as we consider the reason that he chose to reveal himself, we actually start to get at his heart.

You see, he has revealed himself to us, because he loves us.

We are part of his great creation, and yet, as special and amazing all of creation is, when he created humanity, he did so in his own image. Creator God, and humanity, shared a special bond. There was fellowship. There was intimacy.

But we know the story, and that special bond was broken. Humanity was shown that there was more… that they could gain a special knowledge and not just be in communion with God, but be like our own little gods. They took it.

Things changed. Not only did it go bad, it spiralled out of control.

But this is where God’s true heart is revealed. Because at this point, he would have been well in his rights to say: ‘too bad, so sad, I’m going to leave you in your chaotic mess, I’m not helping you anymore.’

But he didn’t. He graciously reached out. He took the initiative to bring about reconciliation. It wasn’t because they deserved it. It was because it was in the heart of God to love humanity.

This in effect, becomes the story line for the entire bible. You know, the Bible might have been written over a time frame of something like 1500 years, with something like over 40 different authors, yet it follows the one story line. God reconciling himself to humanity - with the big climax coming when God offers his one and only Son, Jesus the Christ, to die on a cross to save humanity. It’s the thing that gives us all hope.

If this love, demonstrated through what really amounts to an obstinate process of reconciliation - if this is at the heart of God, then to go back to where I started, that is to say, we want to act and speak in ways that reflects God’s heart, then we need to be people who care about reconciliation.

David

Well, I want to turn to the story in the Bible that we read earlier - a story that shows what this can look like in practice.

King David is of course perhaps the most well known of all of the Israelite kings.

Now David was actually referred to as a man after God’s own heart. This reference to David in this way was said by Samuel, when he was rebuking Saul for doing things his own way, and he said that a man would replace him who is a man after God’s own heart.

This was never to suggest that David was perfect. In fact, the Bible makes no illusion to the fact that David was a deeply flawed man. Yet in the passage we have before us today, we really get to see why he’s been referred to as a man after God’s own heart.

Let me give some background.

King Saul

So, Saul had been the first King of Israel, but things turned bad and God appointed David as king. But even after his annointing, there was considerable time while Saul remained king.

A little side note which will become important to the following story, David becomes best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan. Jonathan recognises that David is going to become king, but David makes a promise to Jonathan that he will always look after Jonathan’s family.

A few opportunities presented themselves where David could easily have taken the life of Saul, but he refused.

Eventually, Saul and his son Jonathan died in battle.

Now, David actually doesn’t become king straight away - at least, not of all of Israel. Saul has another son who assumes the throne - his name is Ish-Bosheth.

The actual transition that eventually sees David take full control is an interesting one, but it largely centres around one of the generals, namely Amner, defecting from Ish-Bosheth to back David, and it’s not long after that that we see David have full control.

Unlike most transitions of power in these days where the new king makes a point of wiping out any person who might have a claim to the throne, David’s hands actually stay clean. It’s really quite clear to see that God is the one who is making all of this change happen, just as God said he would.

Now, all of this happens in the early chapters of 2 Samuel and we see David’s kingship growing stronger and stronger.

But then we come to chapter 9 where we find a very unexpected story.

Now remember, David’s place here is God ordained. Saul and his family were taken away by God. Anyone from Saul’s family could be considered a threat to David.

But yet, in 2 Sam 9:1, David asks: “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

He’s remembering the promise that he made back to his good friend Jonathan many years ago now.

Now, this is actually an interesting situation, because if you were from Saul’s family, would you make yourself known at this point? You would have to ask yourself how much you trust David.

You might be scared that this was actually a sneaky ploy so they would reveal themselves, only for David to finally elimate all threats.

As it happens, there was a servant from Saul’s household named Ziba.

Ziba is actually not an altogther honest character, and if you were to read a few chapters later (more specifically, chapter 16), you’ll see that he tries to swindle things for his own gain. I have a strong suspicion that it was because he thought he might be able to gain, that he actually identified the only one from Saul’s family that was still alive - Mephiboseth.

Mephibosheth

But this calls for an introduction to Mephibosheth, because there’s a good possibility you’ve never heard of him before.

Mephibosheth is the son of Jonathan, and we get a little of his back story in what amounts to a side note in the narrative back in 2 Samuel 4. The focus of that chapter was actually to show how Ish-boesth was murdered (remember, he was the one who had assumed the throne after Saul’s death), and the chapter was very clear to spell out that David was not involved nor approved of this action.

But tucked away in this chapter, in what the NIV has put in parentheses, we get this little story about how Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth was being looked after by his nurse, but in the panic after Saul and Jonathan’s death, she knew his life would be in danger, so she tried to flee, but in the hurry, he fell in such a way that he became lame in both feet. He was only five years at the time.

Quite a few years have now passed before we get to our story in chapter 9, but David has just now discovered that Jonathan, has a disabled son who is still alive.

Now, this creates an interesting dynamic to this whole story.

On one level, Mephibosheth, by the mere fact that he has decended from the King, means he has a legitimate claim on the throne. But on the other hand, his current situation of weakness, particularly when compared with the strength of David’s position, means that he is hardly worth David’s time and thought.

David summons Mephibosheth

What David does next, is very countercultural.

He decides to show extreme kindness to Mephibosheth, even though there is no strategic advantage, in fact, if we’re talking strategy, it’s going to make things worse.

David summons Mephibosheth.

Now, this is where we need to use a little imagination. I wonder if in the summons, they actually told Mephibosheth that David planned on showing kindness to him? And even if they did, would Mephibosheth believe him? He would have every right to feel nervous coming before David.

As he comes in before David he bows.

David says his name - “Mephibosheth”

David reassures him. I have brought you here to show you kindness. I am going to restore your land. You’re going to eat at my table.

It’s an extraordinary gesture, and one far beyond what was necessary.

Mephibosheth responds humbly - “What is your servant, that you should notive a dead dog like me?”

But David makes it happen. This is no mere PR exercise. This is David acting with true generosity.

Why?

God’s heart

I’ve already suggested it’s not to gain a strategic advantage.

I want to suggest, that actually, this is for the same reason that David was previously referred to as a man after God’s own heart.

A relationship had been broken. Broken relationships cause bitterness. Things get worse. When relationships are broken, people are too preoccupied trying to justify their own position, that they don’t see both parties suffer.

This breaks God’s heart because it’s not the way things are meant to be.

David has been close to God, he knows that this kind of bitterness will only end badly.

Because he’s experienced the love of God, he extends it to others.

David could have very easily argued - it’s not my problem. I didn’t kill Saul. I didn’t kill Jonathan. I didn’t kill any of Saul’s family. Their predicament is all self-inflicted so I can feel justified in doing nothing.

But how can you have this attitude when you have expericed the love of God.

Imagine if God said to us - you know what, the situation you’re in… that’s your own fault. I’m not going to help you. God might be in his rights to say that, but his love for us is too great.

Aboriginal reconciliation

Now, as you might have guessed, given that the theme of today is about reconciliation week, I want to apply all of this to the current situation we find ourselves in with reconciliation with the Aboriginal people of this land.

When I hear people talk about reconciliation, I hear a number of reasons why it’s not my problem.

Perhaps number one is the argument - it’s not my fault. I wasn’t the one who mistreated the Aboriginal people all those years ago. I didn’t make the successive policies that led to the bad outcomes for these people. I’m not to blame, so what’s it got to do with me?

That’s the argument David could have made to Mephibosheth. He didn’t kill his dad. He didn’t cause thre situation that ended in him being lame in both feet. If anything, you could argue that it was God who did it. So maybe it would be best to leave him in the situation.

This is not God’s heart.

And it can’t be ours either.

God’s heart is for reconciliation, and so should ours.

Too often, I think talk of who’s to blame is a big distraction. We sometimes like to talk about blame, because if we can pin a wrong doing to a particular person, or perhaps a particular group of people, then we absolve all responsibility for a problem.

But let’s hypothetically assume that you’ve never had a racist thought, or a said a racist word or done anything even vaguely racist in your entire life… even then, if we are to have the heart of God, when we see a broken relationship like we have between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people, then we should still be moved to do what we can to help.

But like David, what if we don’t just do the bare minimum? You know, David could have just made a really fine speech. He could have said how sorry he was for the loss that his family has suffered. He could have done it in a really heart felt and meaningful way.

But did you see what he actually did? He restored the land and invited him to his table.

Now it’s interesting there’s a mention of land here.

You might have noticed that one of the two dates that define the week of reconciliation week is actually the anniversary of the Mabo decision. One of the big fears that many in the Australian public had following the Mabo decision was whether we’d all lose our land.

It is interesting how after all these years, they actually haven’t come and taken your house off you.

But here’s the thing… as Christians, we know that our treasure is in heaven. Even if we do lose some earthly possession, could we see this as a cost worth bearing.

When David restored Mephibosheth’s land, that would have come at a cost. But there was a bigger picture. The future was going to be better when they restored their relationship.

Application

So what does all of this look like in practice?

You see this is not about going back to the way things were. We’re not going back to 1787, and I don’t think anyone actually wants that.

We do live in a multicultural society with people from not just European heritage, but also Asian, African, and the Americas. That’s not going to change.

Recognise there is a problem

So what should we do?

Can I suggest that a good place is to recognise that there is a problem that needs fixing.

You know, when we look at this story of David and Mephibosheth, did you notice it starts with a question. It’s obvious at the start of the chapter that David’s not even aware of Mephibosheth or his situation. It took a question to realise Mephibosheth’s predicament.

If David didn’t ask the question, he could have remained blissfully ignorant.

We can be blissfully ignorant of the struggles faced by the Aboriginal people. We can remain ignorant about the generation after generation of mistreatment has meant that the poorer outcomes are very real today. We can remain ignorant, thinking that because when the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said sorry back in 2008, everything suddenly became fine, when in reality, that was just one point in a long road of change.

So let’s start by actually recognising that there is a problem.

Listen

Can I then suggest, take the time to listen.

One of the things that I absolutely love about this story of David and Mephibosheth is that not only did David do something really practical like restore land, he also invited him to the King’s table.

When you are at the table, you get a voice. You get to be heard. You get a stake in the conversation.

For too long, non-Aboriginals have said, we know what’s best for Aboriginal people, and they’ve done so without actually taking the time to listen to them. This is what led to the stolen generation. This is what led to rounding them up and putting them in mission stations.

Some of you might not like me raising the voice referendum, and I know people had their reasons why they voted no, but they were just saying they wanted a voice.… that they wanted a seat at the table.

That vote has now passed, but yet we still have an opporuntity to listen.

In fact, here at Tanilba Bay Baptist, we have the absolute privilege of having some Worimi elders attend our church. If you take the time to listen to them, you’ll find that far from some nasty group that want to take all our houses and possessions, they want to reach out and walk with us.

But can I suggest, listen without interjecting with your own preconcieved ideas.

Any further action after that should only come from a posture of listening.

Rather than us trying to think we can fix what’s happened, let’s hear what they have to say. And if what they say makes us feel uncomfortable, maybe we need to sit with that uncomfortableness… maybe if we want to restore a relationship, this is what needs to happen.

Conclusion

As believers, we should be taking a lead on much of this, because as I argued earlier, reconciliation is at the heart of God.

He’s reconciled humanity to him, and he wants us to reconcile relationships that are broken.

This of course has much wider application that just the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, but yet today I believe it is worth singling out this need for reconciliation because it is so important for us as a nation.

David was a man after God’s own heart, and this story so beautifully demonstrates how reconciliation can take place.

This process for us is not going to be a few short steps. I believe this is something that we’re going to need to work on for generations to come.

But like David with Mephibosheth, let’s invite them to the table and hear what they have to say.

Let me pray...