Seven Years of Pain - 2 Samuel 10-14

Obviously there are many lessons in these chapters to glean fruit for our lives. Perhaps one of the most potent is the story of Ammon, Tamar and King David. Ammon, King David's son, decided he wanted to have a relationship with his half-sister Tamar. Tamar doesn't refuse herself from him but rather than wait for the proper time Ammon rapes Tamar and then casts her out. Abosolum, Tamar's natural brother takes great issue with this rape. Here is where the story gets interesting: King David knows about the rape but does nothing, either as King or as a father. Because of this Absolum takes matters into his own hands: Two years later. After Absolum kills Ammon he is out cast himself in David's kingdom for another three years. Joab, David's right hand solider, convinces David to allow Absolum to come home but won't allow Absolum to see him for another two full years. Finally Absolum gets everyone's attention with the burning of Joab's filled and Joab convinces David to see his son ... seven years after the initial sin and conflict. Here we have the story that could be told of many families in the world today. One child does something to another and a parent ignores it. Those two children do great harm to each other and seven years later you are still dealing with the aftermath. Seven years! In some ways, compared to the stories of today, seven years is not very long. There are families today who have suffered decades with the similair stories and circumstances. We are happen to go on and on and never resolve our issues. The seeking of forgiveness, the granting of forgiveness and making things right take a back seat to bitterness and hatred and hurt. Christ came to restore these type of relationships with families and with loved ones and friends. But, if King David (either as a father or as a dad) would have dealt with this when he discovered it he would have prevented seven years of a bad itch. Are there things in the past you need to deal with or are you content with a bad itch?