LINK: 2 Samuel 12:13b-13:38
BACKGROUND
After all of David's psalms of repentance, we pick up the narrative again. David was forgiven and restored even though adultery and murder were cause for execution (Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 20:10). We have learned from the previous four days of Psalm readings that God is a gracious and compassionate God, but there are often consequences to our sin, and there was nothing David could do to reverse them. Nathan prophesied that the sword would never depart from his house (12:10 is fulfilled in the conflict with Absalom. See 13:28 and 18:14.). Also, he prophesied that David's wives would be taken from him (12:11 was fulfilled when Absalom lay with David's concubines in 16:22).
The immediate consequence of David's sin was the death of the child conceived between Bathsheba and David. The surprise at David ceasing his fasting once the child died (12:21) was because fasting and mourning usually occurred when someone died, but David knew he could not reverse God's hand.
The bright spot in all the consequences was the birth of a second son, Solomon ("peace"), named Jedidiah ("loved by the LORD") by Nathan.
2 Samuel 13 is the beginning of the consequence of the sword never departing from his house (12:10). Amnon, David's firstborn son by Ahinoam (3:2) raped Tamar, Absalom's sister by David's wife Maacah (3:3). Rape is horrible and relations between half brothers and sisters were forbidden (Leviticus 20:17). Because he had violated a virgin, he was to marry her (Deuteronomy 22:29) but sent her away. David did nothing about it, and Absalom hated Amnon and waited two years before he avenged the rape by having his servant murder Amnon.
This is the beginning of a family divided because of the consequences of sin.
PRAYER
Lord, unite our homes under the banner of Your love. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
1 comment:
I spend time listening to people who have divided households, and it breaks my heart. I pray for unity in marriages and families today.
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