April 27 - 2 Samuel 12:26-31 | 1 Chronicles 20:2-3 | 2 Samuel 13:1-14:33

Good morning everyone,

Today we begin our reading with Amnon, David’s oldest son, suffering from a terrible case of “gee I’m a jerk-idus” which will ultimately be the death of him. We are told in verse one that he “fell in love” with his half sister Tamar, but may I suggest to you that what he suffered from had nothing to do with love, it was pure, unadulterated lust. Tamar was beautiful, she was a virgin and apparently unaware of Amnon’s feelings toward her. When Amnon confided in his cousin, Jonadab, his adviser, his obsession for Tamar, they devised a plan to get Tamar to Amnon’s house where despite her resistance, her pleading and reasoning him, he raped her. Then … and then, he hated her and threw her out in the street. To add insult to injury, this dear girl’s full brother, Absalom, told her to be quiet about it. Furthermore, when her father, David, the king learned of the attack, we are told though he was furious, he did not lift one finger in her defense; but how could he? He himself was an adulterer and murderer, they would laugh at his hypocrisy should he speak up. The consequence of choice goes on and on. Amnon’s lust, his selfish desires, sentenced Tamar to the life of a desolate woman.

Fast forward and we have Absalom, who has been letting the hatred for Amnon brew for two years, devising a plan to murder him. There is more to it than just revenge for his sister, though. Amnon was David’s first born and next in line to be king, with him dead that would put Absalom next up for the throne, however, he will not have the courage to murder his half brother himself. Nope, he will get him drunk and then order his men to strike Amnon down. Sound familiar? Like father, like son … think about it. 

Just as guilty as if he had actually been the one to strike the blow to end Amnon’s life, Absalom then takes off to hide out at his grandfather’s house in Geshur. David’s got this “love/hate” thing going on. He misses his son terribly but is crazy angry at him for killing his first born son, so he just leaves him sit there. After three years, though, Joab steps in to devise a plan to get him back into the palace. I’m thinking this is not so selfless either, Joab is looking at job security. If anything happens to David, he wants to be in good with the next king so he can keep his Commander of the Army title. Whatever the reason, David says, Absalom can come back, but there is no repentance in Absalom’s heart, there is no sorrow. Two years go by, David still refuses to see Absalom and he has the “poor, poor, pitiful me” thing going on and feeling like an outcast makes many unsuccessful attempts to contact David. When Joab won’t answer his calls either, Absalom orders his servant to set fire to Joab’s fields, which happen to be next-door, to get Joab’s attention. That worked. Joab storms over to his house and demands to know why he burnt down his fields. Absalom tells him he wants a face-to-face with his dad and he gets it. Reconciliation is made but there is still an elephant in the room. 

You can see the heavy toll of David’s past sin is taking on his life. How he is suffering from the consequence of poor choices of days gone by. He is hardened, and while he desperately loves his son he is unable to forgive him even though David was totally forgiven by the Father for the sins he committed. Do you have someone in your life you need to forgive? Don’t let the evil one keep you apart one more day, give them a call, show them the love of Jesus. Right on? 

Psalm 103:11-12 promises us, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” 

Have a super good day, to God be the glory.

God bless you all …