Parson to Person: The boat of returning

We have all said it at one time or another ? ?It?s nice to go away but it?s nice to return home.?

Returning is a ritual. We do it everyday ? whether we?re returning from work, school or just picking up the groceries. We return to our place of comfort ? home.

In 2 Samuel we see a little verse where King David is returning after fleeing for his life from his kingdom. His son Absalom conspired to take the throne from him. In time, Absalom is killed and King David returns home.

2 Samuel 19:18: ?They crossed at the ford to take the King?s household over to do whatever he wished.?

In crossing the Jordan River, they would have ridden a ferry boat.

This boat ride would find the king dealing with issues we all deal with from time to time.

First of all, he would have been returning from grief. Grief comes in many sizes.

Grief of a loved one.

Grief of loss of a job.

Grief of divorce.

The list can be quite long.

Earlier, in this chapter, his grief overcame him to the point of losing touch with reality. He needed to face his grief and move on.

A second issue David needed to return was forgiveness. He was barely off of the ferry boat when people who had sided against David with Absalom came seeking forgiveness for their actions.

2 Samuel 19:19-20: ?... May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the King put it out of his mind. For I, your servant, know that I have sinned?.?

David forgave these people who greatly wronged him. Some advised the King to punish them.

The Lord?s prayer teaches us to not only ask forgiveness but also to forgive those who have wronged us.

Ephesians 4:32 says: ?Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.?

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross was reminded one day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But she acted as if she had never heard of the incident.

?Don?t you remember it?? her friend asked.

?No,? came Barton?s reply. ?I distinctly remember forgetting it.?

The third issue David was returning to was leadership. He was returning to the throne that he quickly had to abdicate from for his life.

When being questioned on a decision, the king took a step of leadership saying, ?Do I not know that today I am King over Israel??- 2 Samuel 19:22b.

We all have responsibilities and duties in life and especially as followers of Christ. We are all called to make disciples and go in Jesus? name. Whatever our role may be within the body of Christ, let us embrace our calling and be leaders in the kingdom of God.

Whether you are returning from grief, or possibly the need to return someone forgiveness or needing to return to leadership, let us go forward.