Prayer Focus: Cyprus,
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 13-15
Scripture In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David. 2 Sam 13:1
Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.
When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar. 2 Sam 20-22
Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.”
The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.
Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in highspirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave. ” 29 So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled. 2 Sam 26-29
Observation — First of all, I had trouble finding passages that conveyed the story without being PG or R rated. This stuff is the making of an action packed drama better than anything than Hollywood can dream up. I find myself as I re-read these chapters not wanting to put the book down. As chapter 15 ends you can almost hear the “announcer” saying, stay tuned Tomorrow to see whether or not Absalum becomes King.
But the really amazing thing is that this is all real, this all happened. And this was the Kingdom of Israel, not some bunch of low life scrum that didn’t know any better.
Application – Part of the time I find myself siding with Absalom. Verse 2 Sam 20 says that “David was furious” about what Amnon, his son had did, but it doesn’t say that he did anything about it. This I think caused a change in Absalum that brought about the whole next chain of events. If David had acted and administered justice instead of just “being furious,” then Absalum and his household would have been more beholden to him than ever and chapters 15-18 would have been written differently.
So what I take from this are two things: The Bible and the people in it are real and do dumb things that when we look at it now, we scratch our head and say to ourselves we would have done it differently. And, God can use us flawed beings to do great things. In spite of us, God rules.
Prayer Lord thank you for loving us in spite of our flawed selves. Help us to be the people you want us to be. Help us trust you to deliver justice, and help us to be patient for your deliverance. Above all Lord, use us to further your Kingdom.
May 6, 2012 at 8:02 PM
Very interesting observation and application. Although we may think we would have done things differently, I have to say, the older I get, the more I see the plans I make more often than not do not work out the way I envisioned they would. I attribute this to the Lord, who I have come to submit, has a far better plan for even the simplest things in this life than I. And, just when I think I have something figured out as to how to proceed in even simple day to day matters, there He is showing me He knows the bettter way. I’m pretty certain this is the way He has always worked and continues to work for His purpose in us all no matter the dispensation. Thanks Tom for stimulating some thoughts I have been meditating on for several months in my walk.
May 10, 2012 at 5:17 PM
thanks for sharing your insight and reflection Lewis
May 7, 2012 at 4:48 PM
That’s where things get kind of strange, because God is omnipresent and omniscient. That means he already knows what we are going to do before we do it, and even when we act on it in our free will…. we are still doing what it is that he knew we would do…. So the Lord knows what the best thing to do is, knows what we will choose to do, and lets us choose to do the wrong thing, …and still has it work to the good “for those who love and honor him..”..
So we have free will to choose what we want to do, but he already knows what we will choose and has it in his plan to advance the Kingdom….
May 11, 2012 at 1:27 PM
I found myself nodding in agreement with this. Especially here: “Help us trust you to deliver justice, and help us to be patient for your deliverance.” I know I often want to take matters into my own hands so that I feel like I have control… *sigh*