II Samuel 13-18

“And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman” (13:20). The story of David and his family demonstrates the cost of unaddressed sin and unresolved grief. David never punished Amnon for raping Tamar, so her brother Absalom took revenge two years later. Absalom was banished but not confronted for his crime; he returned later, full of pride and anger, to wage war against David. The cycle of neglect and violence ended with David mourning the death of his beloved, troubled son Absalom (18:33).

God neither ignores nor excuses sin. Instead, because he loves us, he “devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him” (13:14). At the cross, we are confronted, forgiven, and restored.