II Samuel 12:1-13:37
Dear RTB’ers,
I really liked Sean’s comment from yesterday, essentially “DON’T GO THERE!!” After that first wrong step, the next steps are even harder to avoid. Just skip that first step! Sounds easy, huh…??!!
What a sad couple of chapters! First, adultery and its aftermath, then rape and its consequences. As for the adultery, I would invite you to reread John’s post from July 30 on Psalm 51, then also where he refers to his earlier post from 2023. In our text today we read of David’s confession as just one line: David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (v. 12:31a) But further reading of Psalm 51 reveals the depth of that confession. We simply cannot read chapter 12 without rereading Psalm 51. Go there. Reread Psalm 51.
As for the rape… Our heart goes out to Tamar. Her life has been ruined. The rapist, Amnon now hates her; her brother, Absalom silences her; and her father does nothing. No longer a virgin, she is left to a life of desolation and loneliness. 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. … So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house. (vv. 13:19, 20b)
What a sad couple of chapters…
Blessings!
See also: April 13 (2023) / II Samuel 12:15b-14:33.