Monday
Our story begins with one of David’s sons, Amnon falling in love with Tamar, one of David’s daughters (by a different mother). Amnon really only thinks he is in love with Tamar and tricks her into getting left alone with him, so that he can take advantage of her. This isn’t real love (obviously) because if it were, he wouldn’t be thinking about his desires, and his wants, but about Tamar and what this would do to her reputation. No, what Amnon was feeling was lust (not unlike his father David felt when he saw Bathsheba). So here is the problem now, Amnon doesn’t want Tamar after he raped her. Tamar’s brother Absalom hears of the situation and offers protection for his sister. But he keeps the whole thing quiet, waiting for his opportunity to seek revenge. (Do you remember Nathan’s prophecy about “the sword never departing from David’s house” [2 Samuel 12:10]?) Well, here’s the first of that prophecy coming true. Absalom eventually kills his brother Amnon. Even after David found out about the whole situation and was angry about it, he still failed to confront Amnon and hold him accountable for his actions, instead he chose to ignore the problem.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Blessings
PK