AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR MAY 7
Read 2 Samuel 13-15
David is IN FOR IT and although his sin is forgiven there will be consequences. ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house’ (2 Sam. 12:11a)
AMNON IS OBSESSED AND HAGGARD. Desires battle within him. He is the first born son of David. Amnon had been born in Hebron to Ahinoam of Jezreel.
This story is devastating, both as a parent or as a brother, or as Tamar. Desire is stalking Amon’s life, looking for an opportunity. Anmon’s fate is a cautionary warning to all those plagued by obsession.
Beware of ‘Obsession‘
Amnon’s evident malaise catches the attention of his friend. ‘Amnon became so obsessed’ (v2.) that Jonadab a cousin of Amon takes notice. And Jonadab is very shrewd and unfortunately complicit in the rape. His counsel about Tamar created an an opportunity for Amnon to gain a private audience with her.
JESUS IS A CHAIN BREAKER. JESUS BREAKS THE CHAINS OF THE OBSESSED AND OFFERS REST TO THE HAGGARD. He teaches us to pray, lead me not into temptation and I wonder how often we take it seriously to pray this part of the Lord’s prayer?
Obsession meets an advisor, who is shrewd.
Jonadab is a regular in the court and often serves as a counselor. His knowledge of the plans and intentions of others is surprising. Perhaps he is serving self-interest? We don’t know. What we do know is after the rape Jonadab refrains from warning Amnon of Absalom’s intentions to kill him and he does try to comfort David when the news of Amnon’s death hits him.
‘But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king’s sons. For Amnon alone is dead, as this has been ordained by Absalom since the day he violated his sister Tamar. So let not my lord the king take it to heart and suppose that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead” (v. 32-33).
Jonadab is a key influencer in this story. His insensitive attempt to console David ‘only Amnon is dead’ is terrible. We don’t say to the grieving look, look, only one of your children is dead–FRANKLY this is really insensitive to the loss of David’s first born, and the complex emotions of harm surrounding David’s three children.
Absalom takes revenge. Revenge with benefits. If he kills his brother he becomes 1st in line for the throne. James 4:2-3 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Absalom could have asked God for vengeance.
This story begins the deep grief of David. He had known loss before when his best friend Jonathon died. And then his son with Bathsheba, now Amnon. The storm isn’t over yet.
HOWEVER GOD IS MERCIFUL. God will punish but not cut off David from his throne.
Nora Morrison writes:
The short comings and trials of David’s life always fills me with so much encouragement. He was man who failed to seek justice for his daughter, who had his own son killed by his other son in revenge, then to be run out of his kingdom by that same son. Yet he was blessed by God and called a man after Gods own heart. Just goes to show God wants us to seek him always. Especially in our failure.
