1) Estrangement as an “Ideology”
“Estrangement – the severance of familial relationships – has existed throughout history. Families have always encountered conflicts that, at times, led to permanent or prolonged separation. However, in recent years, a new and distinct phenomenon has emerged: estrangement as an ideological movement rather than a situational or personal decision.” – Steven Howard
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – MLK Jr
Estrangement says: “Nothing can change.” Love asks: “What if God can?”
2) David Surrenders His Hope
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
3) The Wise Woman of Tekoa Parables a Different Course
4) The Hope of Reconciliation Reframed
“God devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.” (2 Samuel 14:14)
Brueggemann “Real virtue is not in keeping the banished one away but in bringing him home.”
5) The Incomplete Reconciliation
6) Jesus tells a better story
Luke 15:20-24 “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Where David hesitates: Jesus pursues; Where David delays: Jesus runs towards the lost and lonely; Where David kisses formally: The Father embraces fully; Where Absalom remains restless: The prodigal is restored
The same God who devises means so the banished are not forever excluded is the God who, in Jesus, crossed the greatest distance of all — not waiting for us to come home, but coming for us Himself.
All glory to God!