Year 1, Week 38, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 38, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Samuel 13; Psalm 86, 122.

Today’s reading documents a devastating series of events in David’s family. While David had received full pardon for his sins, the remainder of 2 Samuel records many tragedies surrounding the life of David suggesting that grave consequences followed David’s choices. While the LORD did not take the kingdom away from David, like He did Saul, there are sad reverberations for David’s house. David did truly repent, and therefore he was truly forgiven; however, the LORD’s forgiveness, restores the relationship to Him, but it does not erase the outcome of actions: “You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife” (2 Samuel 12:9b-10). 2 Samuel 13 records the first devastating consequence of David’s actions—David’s oldest son, Ammon, rapes his half-sister, Tamar. Then Tamar’s brother, Absalom, murders his half-brother. This is not to blame David for the sins that were described in today’s reading, but the unraveling of David’s house is explained in part by desires and behaviors modeled by David. The LORD’s plans will still unfold through the promises made to David, but the way forward has just taken a messy twist. Today’s reading also includes two Psalms attributed to David. Psalm 86 contains strong cries to the LORD for help, while Psalm 122 expresses the glory of Jerusalem.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the LORD revealing a wicked family portrait unfolding with the first family of Israel: “if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:4). There is an intrigue to what is unfolding in today’s reading, but fascination is not the best description to capture what we are reading. Perhaps revulsion should better capture how we might better read this account, for “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). There are five characters who comprise the unfolding of this family tragedy, and only one truly acted in a commendable was was the trapped (2 Samuel 13:5-11), ignored (2 Samuel 13:14a,16b), raped (2 Samuel 13:14b), despised (2 Samuel 13:15), banished (2 Samuel 13:17), and ruined (2 Samuel 13:18-19,20b) Tamar—a daughter of the king, who was given no human dignity (2 Samuel 13:17 literally says, “Get this thing out of here,” in reference to Tamar). And yet Tamar is the only person in this chapter who expresses a righteous moral thought: “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing” (2 Samuel 13:12). Tamar was obedient to her father (2 Samuel 13:7-8); helpful to her brother (2 Samuel 13:9-10); and noble in her character (2 Samuel 13:11-13). But Tamar is broken: “And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went” (2 Samuel 13:19). 

The four other characters should be carefully observed as well. But whereas the observation of Tamar should prompt compassionate sorrow, the observations of Ammon, Jonadad, Absalom, and even David should prompt catastrophic disgust. First, there is Ammon-a man who loves only himself and his lusts: “And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar…Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!” (2 Samuel 13:2,15). Ammon is a deviant. Second, there is cousin Jonadad-a man who shrewdly knows how to get things done, but has no principles of righteousness to guide him: “Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” (2 Samuel 13:5). Jonadad is a very dangerous man. Next is Absalom-a man who has a measure of self-control, but also is full of vengeance: “But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar…Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant” (2 Samuel 13:22,28). Absalom’s angry actions were premeditated. Then there is David-a man who was upset but did nothing to step in: “When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry” (2 Samuel 13:21). Perhaps feeling neutralized by his own sin, David fails to step in to either comfort his daughter or confront his sons.

So, it might seem that with the first family unraveling, the entire nation will also soon unravel. But it must be kept in mind that while things seem totally out of control leaving one to wonder what the LORD was up to, it should be recalled that the LORD is present and powerful and faithful. The sinful cravings of Ammon, the wicked scheming of Jonabad, the premeditated hatred of Absalom, and even David’s negligence of both justice and comfort, was, nevertheless, occurring at the same time that the Word of the LORD was coming to pass: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house” (2 Samuel 13:11). The LORD was merely fulfilling His Word: “I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed” (Ezekiel 12:25). Perhaps this is why it is fitting that one of our two Psalms directs us to cry out to the LORD: “In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me” (Psalm 86:7).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe