II Samuel 12-14

“Yet God … plans ways so that the banished one may not be cast out from him” (14:14).  God had forgiven David of murder and adultery, and David was now being challenged to forgive his son Absalom, who had killed Amnon in revenge for the rape of Tamar.  David partially accepted Joab’s call for reconciliation (14:19), but sadly, he continued to distance himself from his Absalom (v28).  Deep bitterness multiplied in David’s family, as the prophecy had said: “the sword shall never depart from your house” (12:10).

In contrast, when God forgives “the banished one”, our sins are wiped away, and we are welcomed home.