It Takes Much More

1 Samuel 19:7 KJV

And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

When Jonathan heard of his father's anger toward David he rose to action to both protect David and to convince his father to be reconciled. Jonathan's words so moved Saul that he turned from his anger and vowed to his son that he would not do David any harm. David returned to the king's home and it looked like things were back to the way they had been in times past.

But Saul's reconciliation was shallow and short lived. Though his temper had been soothed for a time, no real change had taken place in his heart. Soon he was angry again and soon David's life was in danger again.

Real reconciliation requires more than a vow to change. Anger as deeply set as was Saul's is not vented by a mere word.

First, it does not appear that David and Saul ever communicated about the conflict. Before Saul could have ever really reconciled with David he would have needed to speak to him. He would have needed to confess and offer apology and come to grips with the target of his aggression.

Secondly, Saul could never have reconciled with David until he had made peace with the fact that God had removed the kingdom from him.

In God's sovereign authority he had pronounced that the kingdom would go to another. If Saul could have made peace with that he could have made peace with David.

Third, Saul had not made peace with the preacher, Samuel.

It was Samuel who had communicated God's message of judgment to Saul. Saul's response was to beg the preacher to make it look like he was still in the grace of God. Samuel and Saul never spoke again. There could have been no real reconciliation with David without also making reconciliation with Samuel.

Too many have the Saul sort of reconciliation with God. They have vowed to live differently in hopes of having peace with God but they have not dealt with the real issues that separate them from God.

• They have never come to grips with God's righteous judgment against their sin
• They have not submitted to the role God's word has in this world and
• They have not surrendered to the only source of true reconciliation with God, which is the work of Jesus Christ of dying in their place

Without these, any reconciliation they have is only pretense on their part.