A father who doesn't forgive his child?

Eventually, when Joab realized that King David was longing for Absalom,

he sent a woman from Tekoa to him, instructing her to act wisely (2 Samuel 14:2).

After briefing her on what to say, she delivered her message to King David (v. 19).

The wise woman said to King David, "Your Majesty, you have acted like a guilty person

in making this request because you have sentenced yourself" (v. 13).

This was because King David had intervened in the woman's family matter,

promising not to harm her remaining son, who had killed his brother in a fight (v. 6),

and declaring, "As surely as the Lord lives,

not one hair of your son's head will fall to the ground" (v. 11).

Therefore, in the eyes of the wise woman, King David's actions regarding Absalom,

whom he had not brought back to the palace from exile, made him seem "guilty" (v. 13).

When I meditate on this passage,

I not only think that King David acted "like a guilty person,"

but I believe he actually was guilty. The sin I perceive is his failure to forgive Absalom.

I think David truly never forgave his son Absalom for killing his other son, Amnon.

Therefore, it wasn't until three years had passed since Absalom fled after killing Amnon

and had been living in Geshur that David's sorrow

for his deceased son Amnon was nearly forgotten,

and only then did his heart begin to long for Absalom (13:38-39).

Consequently, David eventually sent for Absalom

to be brought from Geshur to Jerusalem (v. 21),

but he instructed him to remain in his own house

and did not allow him to appear before him for two full years.

The reason was that David did not want to see Absalom (vv. 24, 28).

If David had truly forgiven his son Absalom, he would have allowed Absalom,

whom he hadn't seen for three years in Geshur, to be brought to Jerusalem

and wouldn't have prevented him

from appearing before him for another two years.

What father can go five years without seeing a forgiven child?

In my view, David was guilty.

He was a father who did not forgive his child.