Redemption in the story of Absalom

I was reading First Samuel, the stories of King David.  He sinned in the matter of Uriah and Bathsheeba and God's punishment was discension in his own household.  Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar.  Absalom killed Amnon and fled.  Joab brought in a wise woman from Tekoa to speak to King David, and these were her words.

God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one may not be cast out from him.

She was begging him to bring back Absalom, which was the apparently the desire of David's heart.

It is also the desire of God's heart.  Not to punish, but to be reunited.  It is an Old Testament summtion of the Gospel.  When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, he told us that he came not to judge, but to save.

When my children offend, it is in simple ways, and easily dealt with.  It is much more difficult to reunite us with God, because the rules we have broken aren't simple household rules, like wearing Heelies in the house, or calling each other names.  We have sinned against one greater than "Mama and Papa" and the debt is much greater.  Hugs and tears won't cover our sins.  The only appropriate payment is in blood.  Yet, if we pay in blood, we have no life left to enjoy.

God doesn't want us dead.  He wants to enjoy time with us.  So, he needed a way to pay our debts, yet leave us alive.  So, while we were sinners, banished from his presence, he found one who could pay our debts in our stead.  This would satisfy the debt, and leave us alive to be with him.  

God's plans are deeper than ours, and his ways are not our ways.  He sees beyond the end, and understands the law of unintended consequences.  His plans are all-encompasing, and he alone could have implemented the way of salvation.

All praise and glory to God for saving a sinner such as I.