Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Samuel 14:14 (New Living Translation)

14 All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

In this (hi)story, a woman comes to King David with a story. The story isn’t true, but it is believable and concerns family members who experienced terrible things. If things continue, more suffering will come to family members. Isn’t it possible to stop all this? Isn’t it possible to say, “Enough is enough?”

The woman was sent by someone to King David to help David understand the troubles in his own family. David’s family needed to declare, “Enough is enough.”

The woman concludes by reminding David that God does not just sweep life away; instead, He devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from Him.

Some folks believe that God loves to punish folks. God loves to see folks suffer and “get their just rewards.” We read here that God “devises ways”—that takes some time, effort, and thought—in bringing us back. God wants us back in a righteous relationship. God does not just sweep us away like accumulated dust on the back steps of the house.

Thank you God. Help me to understand and live fully with this love.