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Can someone look spiritually “close” on the outside while remaining deeply distant from God on the inside? This week in 2 Samuel 14, we’ll uncover the danger of “Halfway Home” faith and discover how Jesus alone can bring real reconciliation, repentance, and restoration.

Talmai - the king of Geshur was Absalom’s grandfather - the father of his mother (cf. 2 Sam 3:3; 1 Chr 3:2).

Abasalom had been gone for 3 years - afraid for his life because King David’s judgment. 

King David longed to go to Absalom. Upon first reading this, it seems that David has a deep desire to go be reconciled to Absalom after grieving for Amnon, but the context should make us rethink this, as we’re about to see. Instead of a desire to reconcile, it might better to interpret David’s desire to go to Absalom to bring justice on him for his murder of David’s first-born son, Amnon. 

Absalom was home…sort of…HALFWAY HOME. Absalom might have been geographically near to his father, but he was a long way from home, relationally. 

This is where some of US might be. We show up to meet with Christian brothers & sisters, but we don’t really share who we are, what we are struggling with or rejoicing in. We show up to events where Jesus is honored and the Scriptures are taught, but we don’t GROW UP to honor Jesus, know, & obey His Scriptures. Many come close geographically, but not relationally - to the Father, Son, Spirit - and each other.

• Is it possible that YOU are HALFWAY HOME?

The description of Absalom might remind the reader of King Saul, of whom the Scriptures says, “There was no one more impressive among the Israelites than he. He stood a head taller than anyone else.” (1 Sam 9:2)

This mention of Absalom’s heavy hair will be highlighted later in the story of Absalom, and it might remind us of another man known for his hair - Samson.

• Overall, being compared to Saul & Sampson might sound like beauty & strength, but both men ended up in a mess because of their PRIDE. This is what awaits Absalom as well.
• Beware finding your purpose, hope, & identity in your outer beauty - it won’t stick around. Purpose, hope, & identity by your Creator, and finds its home on the INSIDE of you.

Notice what Abaslom named his daughter - Tamar - after his beautiful sister (2 Sam 13:1). Like her father Absalom, and her aunt, young Tamar was known for her beauty. 

While Absalom looked good on the outside, he was still banished from the presence of his father - 2 years in the same city, yet he never saw the king.

Absalom had been gone in Geshur for 3 years (2 Sam 13:38), and now 2 years in Jerusalem. That’s 5 YEARS of not seeing his Dad’s face.

• Who was WRONG in this story? Was it David, unwilling to fully forgive? OR, was it Absalom, unwilling to really repent?
• It’s probably both/and rather than either/or.
• Like many of us, David rather put his broken relationship on the back burner than deal with the past pain they would have to work out. It seems that David was struggling with how to FULLY FORGIVE yet RIGHTEOUSLY JUDGE his son.
• Absalom, on the other hand, was convinced that he was in the right. Yes, he killed Amnon - a punishment he thought was deserved, and a punishment that King David should have carried out. 
• They might be physically near, but they are still relationally distant - Only HALFWAY HOME.
• True reconciliation needs 2 willing parties: 1 seeking forgiveness and another extending forgiveness.

Absalom bowed on his face before King David, but this alone is not the proof of his repentance. Instead, this is the act of the usual honor paid to a king. David, on the other hand, kissed Absalom. He no longer treated Absalom like an enemy, nor kept Absalom at a distance, but now welcomed Abasalom, his son.

But sadly, this reconciliation wasn’t real, because Absalom’s pretty face covered up his ugly heart. Absalom didn’t want to repent, he wanted revenge. Absalom approaches with a false humility, a lack of real repentance, and a desperate desire to be in charge. This would be the last time Abasalom would bow before his father, because he was plotting to take David’s throne in the coming days.

Have you really come HOME…OR…are you only HALFWAY HOME?

Do you show up to church gatherings, open your Bible every now and then, but come short of REAL REPENTANCE. Are you HALFWAY HOME, just enough to be physically near, but pushing back enough to be relationally distant?

• Being near the kingdom is not the same thing as being reconciled to the King.

OR…Are you more like the Prodigal son who finally came to the end of his sin…EMPTY and ASHAMED, and finally heads home to his father - a father who runs out to respond to his repentance?

Unlike David, the One who wants to be your Heavenly Father can both FULLY FORGIVE and still RIGHTEOUSLY JUDGE?

Thankfully, our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to a cross, where He WAS able to fully forgive us, yet righteously judge our sin by placing it on Jesus. At the cross, God’s justice and God’s mercy met.

Have turned from your sin and call on Jesus?