David's son Absolam had a sister by his mother who was very beautiful. Her name was Tamar, and she was a virgin. His half brother, Amnon, had a crush on her. She was all he could think about. He was totally infatuated with her.
David's brother's son, Jonadab, Amnon's cousin, came to see Amnon one day and saw how depressed Amnon was. He asked Amnon what was wrong? Amnon told him about Tamar. Jonadab was a very sneaky and underhanded person, so he gave Amnon the idea to fake sickness and have Tamar come take care of him.
So, Amnon faked being ill, and David came to see him. He asked what he could do to help him, and Amnon suggested having Tamar come to feed him. So, David sent for Tamar, who cooked him a big meal and took it to him. But, Amnon refused to eat and sent all the men away. Then he grabbed Tamar and began to force himself on her. She begged him to stop, but he wouldn't. She even said, "Just ask our father to give me to you to wife, you don't have to force me! You KNOW he will do it!"
Amnon raped Tamar, then he didn't want her anymore. He cast her aside like trash, and hurt her as emotionally as he had physically.
Absolom went to check on his sister and told her to please not say anything, after all, Amnon IS her brother. David was angry but did nothing, and Absalom didn't say anything, but he hated Amnon for what he did to his sister.
After two years, it was time for the sheep to be sheared. Absolam had all the sheep shearers present and invited all his brothers to a feast. He asked David for permission, but David refused even to just let Amnon go, for fear all his sons might be in danger in just one place. But, after much pleading, David finally let them all go.
Absolam made a plan with his servants to kill Amnon when he had been made drunk. "Don't worry, I'm your master and I am commanding it, so you are not responsible." And they did.
All the king's sons ran away. David got news that all of his sons were dead, and he immediately went into mourning. But it was Jonadab, his nephew, that finally told him that it was just Amnon that was killed; and Absolam had fled to Geshur, ruled by king Ammihud. David still mourned after Amnon.
All of David's sons returned home. Then for three years, David mourned for Absolam who was gone, and he no longer mourned for Amnon, because Amnon was dead, and he knew he could not bring HIM back.
==========
Maybe David should have done more to discipline his son, Amnon, then the anger that Absolam endured would not have grown to the point that it did; or maybe David should have been more involved in his son's emotional state of mind. Because of his indifference, he lost two of his sons.
So, the lesson I got from this is that you should never let anyone get away with sin in your household. If you do, you are breeding drama and broken hearts into your life.
===========
No comments:
Post a Comment