YEAR 2, WEEK 35, Day 3, Wednesday, 27 August 2025

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=2+Samuel+13

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 27 August 2025:

2 Samuel 13:1 — Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her.

Here we see sin beginning not with action but with disordered desire. Amnon’s so-called “love” was actually lust, for it sought to take and consume rather than to honor and give. James 1:14-15 teaches that desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin when fully grown brings forth death. Already, the seeds of tragedy are present in Amnon’s heart, reflecting how unchecked desires can lead to ruin.

2 Samuel 13:2 — And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

Most of what the world calls love is really lust, based on self-interest rather than sacrifice for sake of another. This is why the Bible makes clear that “God is Love,” rather than, “love is God,” because God is not only the source of all real love, but He also defines love. The world seeks to define God from their self-centered perspective of love which is self-gratifying, essentially imagining a God which serves them. Love is never contrary to sin, and sin is always contrary to love. So, when someone says no one can tell another person who they can or should love, they don’t understand the definition of love.

Lust often disguises itself as love but is inwardly destructive. It consumes the one who entertains it. Amnon’s fixation shows the enslaving nature of sinful desire. Instead of turning his thoughts toward purity or seeking accountability, he fed his desire until it made him sick. Jesus warned that lust in the heart is already adultery (Matthew 5:28).

2 Samuel 13:3-5 — But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very crafty man. And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 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.’”

Jonadab’s counsel represents the folly of listening to worldly wisdom. Rather than confronting Amnon’s sinful thinking, he feeds it and enables destruction. “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Counsel from “crafty” friends often leads us away from righteousness.

Real friends will encourage you to obey God, not to find creative ways to sin.

2 Samuel 13:6-10 — So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.” So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

David appears passive here, failing to discern the danger of Amnon’s request. This same passivity will mark his response to the sin later. Tamar, innocent and obedient, walks into a trap. Sin often hides behind a façade of weakness or need. Like the serpent in Eden, Amnon used deceit to lure his victim.

2 Samuel 13:11-14 — But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

Tamar’s pleas reflect wisdom and a desperate attempt to restrain Amnon from sin. She appeals to God’s law, to shame, to his reputation, and even to a potential lawful means, but Amnon’s lust deafens him. Here we see the violence and selfishness of sin: he silences truth and violates innocence. This grievous sin echoes the fallenness of humanity apart from God.

2 Samuel 13:15-17 — 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!” But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.

Lust always destroys the illusion of love. What Amnon thought was love turned to hatred, exposing it as selfish desire. Once he had taken what he wanted, he despised the one he used. Sin never satisfies; it leaves bitterness in its wake. This reveals the counterfeit nature of sin and worldly lust called love compared to Christ’s love, which gives itself up for the beloved (Ephesians 5:25).

Once again to drive home the point — lust is not love, though we often use the word ‘love’ to describe lust. Even our Bible translation uses the word ‘love’ for ‘ahab’ which in Hebrew can mean a good or bad affection. Love is selfless. Lust is selfish. Love grows more love. Lust always ends in hate. Often, people will pretend to love to satisfy their lust. But when their lust is satisfied, hate is revealed.

2 Samuel 13:18-20 — She was wearing a long robe with sleeves (for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed). So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 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. And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house.

Tamar, now desolate, bears the crushing shame of a sin done against her. In Israel’s culture, her dignity was stripped away, though she was innocent. Absalom’s response minimizes her suffering, a tragic reflection of how victims are often silenced. Yet God hears the cry of the afflicted (Psalm 34:18).

2 Samuel 13:21-22 — When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.

David’s anger is without action. As in his dealings with Amnon earlier, David again shows failure to act decisively. His passivity fosters further destruction. Absalom’s hatred simmers in silence, foreshadowing his vengeful rebellion. Ephesians 4:26–27 warns not to let anger fester, lest it give the devil an opportunity.

He was angry, but he didn’t do anything. Amnon raped his sister Tamar, and David did nothing – wow! Amnon’s crime deserved death; David does not appear to even address the matter but rather seems to act as if it never happened. Could this be because David himself was guilty of sexual sin that was deserving of death? Was he concerned about the risk of Amnon’s crime further exposing his hypocrisy? Or was he merely attempting to do damage control, wrongfully protecting his son Amnon from the consequences of his crime? Whatever the reason, David is perverting justice, failing to protect the victims of this sin, and setting the stage for increased pain and destruction. In his guilt and self-centeredness, David has failed to address the reality of sin within his family, and it has and will cost them dearly. Too often, for many reasons, we fail to address the sins of those we care about. Usually this decision to ignore sin is motivated by pain avoidance, the desire to avoid the consequences of the confrontation. We cannot lovingly ignore the sin of a brother or sister, being a party to their destruction. Of course the Bible is VERY clear that confronting sin must be done “in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1) “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20) “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 1:22-24)

• Galatians 6:1 — Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:15 — Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
• 2 Timothy 4:2 — Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
• 1 Timothy 5:20 — As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
• Titus 1:9 — He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6 — Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14 — And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
• Colossians 3:16 — Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

2 Samuel 13:30 — While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.”

Things are not usually as good or as bad as first reported. Stories are often inflated due to emotional excitement or minimized to avoid accountability. Don’t be quick to judge a situation until the dust settles.

2 Samuel 13:23-29 — After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 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.” So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

Absalom’s vengeance comes after two years of silent hatred. Like Cain, who killed Abel (Genesis 4), Absalom takes justice into his own hands rather than leaving it to the Lord. David’s failure to act fostered an environment where Absalom felt compelled to avenge his sister. This act of fratricide deepens the fractures in David’s household, fulfilling the word of judgment Nathan declared in 2 Samuel 12:10.

2 Samuel 13:30-39 — While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.” But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly. But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

The cycle of sin produces sorrow upon sorrow: lust, rape, hatred, vengeance, murder, exile. David mourns continually, yet his longing for Absalom is mixed with unresolved grief and failure. The consequences of his sin (2 Samuel 12) are being played out in his house. Yet even here, God is sovereign, preparing the stage for later conflicts that will test David and Israel.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 27 August 2025: Guard your heart diligently against sinful desire before it takes root and leads to destruction. Like Amnon, unchecked lust can destroy lives; like Absalom, unresolved anger can corrupt into vengeance. Instead, submit every desire and emotion to the Spirit of Christ, who calls us to purity, forgiveness, and trust in God’s justice (Galatians 5:16–17; Romans 12:19). Today, practice bringing one sinful desire or unresolved anger to God in prayer, confess it, and replace it with a Christlike action of love, purity, or reconciliation.

Pray:“ Lord, You see the brokenness caused by sin in families and nations. Keep me from entertaining sinful desires that lead to destruction. Purify my heart, and help me to walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh. Where I am tempted to lust, give me self-control. Where I am tempted to anger, teach me to forgive and entrust justice to You. May my life reflect the purity and love of Christ in thought, word, and deed. Amen.”