2 Samuel
13: 1-20
In a
previous study of Bathsheba, we learned of King David's sin
of adultery and of his plot to have Bathsheba's husband killed. Because of this, in 2 Samuel 12:9-10 Nathan
the prophet, speaking the words of the LORD, tells King David "Wherefore
hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou
hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy
wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Amnon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart
from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of
Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."
And so, we
have the tragic story of Tamar, daughter of David, sister of Absalom,
half-sister to Amnon. 2 Samuel 13:1 “and
it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister,
whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.” But this was a not a pure love of a brother
for a sister, no, Amnon according to V2 was “so vexed, that he fell sick for
his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do
any thing to her." This statement brings out that he lusted after her, but
because she was a virgin, he hesitated to carry through with his emotions. How much better it would have been for Tamar
and for Amnon if he would have listened to his conscience. James 1:14-15 "But every man is tempted,
when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth
forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." But also that, as believers, by the Holy
Spirit we have the power to resist temptations James 4:7-8 "Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you. Draw
nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double
minded".
And then
we find in V3 that "Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah David's brother:". Jonadab was Amnon's cousin, and he possessed
that terrible quality "Jonadab was a very subtil man" As in Genesis 3:1 "Now the serpent was
more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made"
Jonadab notices Amnon's troubled countenance and asks Amnon V4 "why art
thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me?" to which Amnon
admits "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." Rather than being a true friend and helping
Amnon to overcome his obsession for Tamar, Jonadab shows his evil mind by
giving Amnon a plan to fulfill his desires - V5 "And Jonadab said unto
him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father
cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and
give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at
her hand." Not only deceive an innocent maiden, but bolder than that,
involve the King of Israel in the deception!
Truly Jeremiah 17:9 "the heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?" But
we must also pay close heed to the next verse Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD
search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
