Highlights:
The consequences of David's sin begin to hit home (II Sam. 12:9-12), first with Amnon's rape and incest, which turns to hate, revenge, and eventually leads to murder as Absalom kills his brother Amnon and flees to Geshur. David and Absalom reconcile (14:28-33). But Absalom's treachery has only begun.
Verses for Today:
Absalom the son of David . . . had a fair (beautiful) sister . . . and Amnon the son of David (by another wife). . . . forced her, and lay with her. . . . Absalom . . . commanded his servants . . . Smite (Kill) Amnon. . . . And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. . . . So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years (II Sam. 13:1,14,28-29,34,37-38).
After David's great sin, he was filled with remorse and was seldom seen in public. Other than rare occasions such as when Joab specifically called upon him to take Rabbah (II Sam. 12:26-31), his palace became his place of seclusion — a prison.
David had lived a godly life except for this sin, but his older sons chose to follow his one great sin. The eldest, Amnon, cruelly raped his half-sister Tamar. When David learned of Amnon's deception and wicked sin against his daughter, he was very wroth (13:21). Since Amnon was the firstborn son and heir to the throne, David ignored that the Law required death (Lev. 20:17). And . . . Absalom hated Amnon for having raped his sister (13:21-22).
Then Absalom, motivated by a selfish ambition to become king and by hatred toward Amnon for raping his sister, determined to carry out "justice" and he murdered his half-brother Amnon, who was heir to the throne. As Christians, we disapprove of Absalom's cold-blooded murder of Amnon, though legally David should have had him put to death two years before. No one is justified in taking the law into his own hands (Rom. 12:19).
The crimes of David's two sons must have reminded him of his two similar sins — adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband placed on the front lines of battle. His sorrow for his sins continued to plague him as two other sons attempted to take over his throne.
A parent suffers greatly to see his own sin enlarged in his children's lives. But the never-ending conseqences of sin cannot be avoided. Sin always produces unforeseen evil consequences which go far beyond all expectation. We can be thankful that God always forgives when we truly repent and forsake our sins.
Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (since God has fully forgiven) (Phil. 3:13-14).
Thought for Today:
Exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13).
Christ Revealed:
Through David's restoration of Absalom (II Sam. 14:33). If an earthly father's compassion reconciles him to his estranged son, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father reconcile us to Himself when we confess our sins. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing (counting, crediting) their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:19).
Word Studies:
13:4 lean =depressed, looking so wretched; 13:5 make thyself sick =pretend to be sick; 14:2 feign =pretend; 14:4 did obeisance =showed reverence, honor; 14:7 quench my coal which is left =destroy the last of my family; 14:11 suffer =allow; 14:21 done this thing =granted your request; 14:26 polled his head =cut his hair.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts & Radio Sri Lanka in honor of the 49th wedding anniversary of Lt. Col. & Mrs. Walter W. Swanson • Government Official: Rep. Howard Berman (CA) • Country: Ethiopia (60 million) in eastern Africa • Major languages: Amharic and Tigrinya • Unsettled after overthrow of communist regime • 41% Eastern Orthodox; 35% Muslim; 10% Protestant; 10% animist; .7% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Put on God's whole armor so that you may be able to successfully stand up against Satan's evil attacks (Eph. 6:11).
Optional Reading: Acts 16
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 6:11