Friday Thought -- October 21, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

David had acted very selfishly in taking Bathsheba.  He was concerned only with what he wanted.  He saw what he wanted and he took it, without considering the consequences.  And as is so often the case, David lived to see his own weaknesses manifest themselves in the lives of his children!

Amnon was one of David’s many sons and Amnon wanted Tamar, who was his half-sister, David’s daughter by another of his many wives.  He was afraid that his father would not allow him to marry Tamar because she was his half-sister.  He was too afraid to even ask.  Instead, he plotted and planned to take Tamar.  He pretended to be ill and asked his father to have Tamar come fix food for him.  While she was in his home, he had the servants all sent away and then he took Tamar by force, against her will.  It was an act of great selfishness.  He wasn’t concerned about how his actions would affect Tamar.  He wasn’t concerned with how his family would respond, what the people would think, or even what God would think.  He was only concerned with what he wanted – so he took her. (2 Samuel 13:6-14)

He thought he loved Tamar, but having gotten what he wanted, his love turned to hatred.  His action was not an act of love it was simply an act of selfishness.  Now that his desire was satisfied, his attitude changed.  He sent Tamar away in disgrace and she lived her life in the home of her brother, Absalom, a desolate woman. (2 Samuel 13:20)

Amnon did not get away with his sin.  Absalom seethed with hatred toward Amnon because he had defiled his sister and Absalom plotted and planned to take revenge.  He patiently waited for two years until the opportunity finally came and then he killed Amnon and fled from the country in fear that David would punish or even kill him. (2 Samuel 13:28-34)

Amnon and Absalom both acted in selfishness and David sat idly by and did nothing to discipline.  David’s own sins and weaknesses were being manifest in his children.

I wonder what weaknesses of yours will show themselves in your children?  Your sins won’t just affect you.  They’ll affect your family and the people around you.  That’s a powerful motivation to live a righteous life.

His, by Grace,

Steve