The Way of the King

We are really suspicious of grace these days. And kindness and forgiveness. Maybe in a more civil world these would not be outliers. But then again, people have always had a hard time with grace. Centuries before Jesus came, we see this play out when one king (David) offers an overture of kindness and condolence to the son of an old king who had shown him love when he was an outlaw and outcast.

 

The son, being aided by his echo chamber of fools and sycophants, can’t even conceive of this act of kindness. Instead, he assumes (looking at his own heart, I suspect) that David’s men are spies and David is preparing to level them. To add to the humiliation, he shames David’s men by shaving them and cutting off their robes. 

 

What is interesting to me, and you might miss it, is that David does nothing. He doesn’t render insult for insult, he doesn’t seek revenge or to give it back with interest. He forbears. If we read the Bible correctly, this story (and all stories in the Old Testament) Jesus says is about him. How, you ask? Well, we will talk about it this Sunday!

 

Remember to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour. It is that time of year again when the time changes, and I can’t wait. The weeds in my yard and garden are calling for order, and the Lenten season comes alive for me when I start the hard task of weeding and digging out the old dead stuff to make way for new growth and new life!!