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David Reynolds
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Somebody Needs To Say “I’m Sorry!”
By David Reynolds
"And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face....So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face." II Samuel 14.24-28
David's eldest son, Am-non, lusted after his half sister, Tamar. Upon the advice of his cousin, he feigned sickness and connived to have Tamar serve him a meal in his bedroom. While she was there, he forced himself upon her and committed rape and incest. His lust then turned into intense hatred for her. When David heard about it he was very angry, but he did nothing to punish Amnon or to bring justice to Tamar. The issue just festered in the family.
Absalom, Tamar's full brother, waited for two full years for his father to act, but David did nothing. Absalom then took the matter into his own hands and had this brother Amnon slain, then he fled for his life.
For three years Absalom remained in exile while David longed and grieved for him, but would not bring himself to bridge the gap. No-body was willing to say, "I'm sorry". Joab finally tricked David into allowing Absalom to return. David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, but refused to meet with him or to talk with him. Nobody was willing to say, "I'm sorry".
For two whole years David refused to speak with his son, so the issue was never resolved. During those two years Absalom grew bitter. Finally Absalom forced a meeting with his father at which time Absalom bowed and David gave him a formal kiss. But the Bible never says that words of reconciliation ever were spoken. No one ever said, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me".
From that point on, Absalom was in rebellion. Un-forgiveness led to bitterness, and bitterness led to open rebellion — all because nobody was willing to face family issues and no-body was willing to say, "I'm sorry.
Please forgive me."
A story is told that once in Europe there was a father and a son who had a disagreement. The argument intensified. Words were spoken. Suddenly, the boy said in anger, "I'm leaving home!"
The father returned with, "If you leave, then, never come back! I never want to see you again!" The son left.
The father hoped that the son would repent and return. Three days passed, and no son. The father, filled with remorse, became worried and began to make inquiries about where the boy was. The son seemed to vanish into `thin air'. Months passed and the father continued to look for his son. He finally went to another city and decided to put a personal ad in the newspaper.
"Son, I'm sorry for what I said. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, meet me in the square at 10:00 o'clock Friday morning."
Afraid that the son would not for-give him, or else never would see the ad, he went to the square early. Upon entering the square he found the square filled with young men.
I just heard of a woman who had a disagreement with her father forty years ago and still will not speak to him. How sad! Family love and relationships are so needful for a full and healthy life. If you are bitter, you are really hurting yourself. Have you ever heard of the saying, "Cutting off your nose to spite your face"? Don't do it to yourself. Don't do it to others. You really do need each other.
This world is crying out for forgiveness. Words are spoken in anger which pride keeps from retracting. Many times we hurt the ones we love the most. Learn to say, "I'm sorry".
Could it be that some of your family is still in the square — waiting?
Article "Somebody Needs To Say ‘I’m Sorry’” written by David Reynolds is excerpted from Apostolic Accent: Pentecostal Principles For The Family.
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, "Eat the meat. Throw away the bones."
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