THE SWORD MAKES ITS APPEARANCE

Chapters 13-19 of 2 Samuel provide the backstory of God's rebuke to David delivered by Nathan with the words, "...the sword shall never depart from your house because you have despised ME."  The baby will die within days; David's first son, Amnon,  raped his half sister, Tamar;  Amnon will be murdered by his half brother Absalom;  then Absalom will move into defiance and rebellion against his own father and will try to usurp his throne for himself, and finally Joab, David's commander over his armies, will kill Absalom.  Granted the events occur over several years, but can you imagine all of this hell because of a choice to give in to an impulse? 

You might ask, why would the author of 2 Samuel give six chapters to Absalom's betrayal of his father and its effects on the family and his kingdom?  The first reason that comes to my mind is to show what happens in a family when a Dad chooses to be disobedient and "do his own thing" leaving the Lord out of his life.   I realize that a Mother's influence is also great, however, Dad is to be the model of how a son is to treat his wife and his children.  David  is angry, but does not correct Amnon for raping his half sister.  David does not enter into the shame or give the compassion that Tamar, the half sister needs. David does nothing for Tamar and Absalom moves her into his home, but basically tells her "to get over it and move on."  David does not respond with any correction or consequence when Absalom kills Amnon, and is less responsive when Absalom betrays and tries to usurp his throne. David is forced to leave Jerusalem, and again be on the run for fear of what Absalom will do to the town and to his brothers.  I would think that David's guilt is eating his breakfast, dinner, and supper.  Later, Absalom is killed when the father's and son's troops go against one another.  David has shown that he is a mighty man of valor, excellent warrior, that he is a man of psalms and poetry, and that he is a great king.  Oh my, as a father and as a husband, he is lacking and his family and his kingdom suffer from his breakdown. 

Can you just imagine this four chapters as a reality show for television? It has all the ingredients which make the shows popular: incest, extra-marital affair, abuse and rape of a woman, major manipulation of characters,  several murders, betrayal, father and son ready to kill one another.  This whole chaos begins from one impulsive and lustful choice made one night when David should have closed his eyes,  gone back into his room, and dealt with his lust before the Lord.   As I stated in another blog, sin takes me further than I ever wanted to go; it causes me to stay longer than I ever planned; and it always produces a great harvest of hell's activities.  David's choice has affected his sons, his wives, and his kingdom.  David has shown and spoken of confession and repentance, but the consequences have been set in motion and I bet it faced him daily until his death.  Be sure and read Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 to see David's confession and his personal testimony of his pain and humility before the Lord.  The same God who kept and forgave David is the same God who meets me in the confession and repentance of my sin.  "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise."  Ps. 51:17.  Praise the Lord for HIS GRACE which is greater than any of our sins!  Forever learning!  In process! #IHAVETHREESONS