May 28

2 Samuel 13

John 17

Psalm 119:81-96

Proverbs 16:6,7

2 Samuel 13 tells a pretty sordid account of how dysfunctional David's family was (and I think dysfunctional is putting it mildly). David's son Amnon lusted after his half sister Tamar. He then planned and carried out a scenario where he would have the opportunity to take her by force. After he raped her, he threw her out of his room and locked the door. Everything about how he treated Tamar was deceitful, disgusting, and insulting. It was a horrible way to treat someone that he claimed to be "in love with."

Tamar's brother Absalom was also disgusted by what Amnon did to her. He then carried out his own plan where he killed his brother out of revenge. Absalom fled to his grandfather and stayed with him for 3 years to escape possible wrath from his father King David. 

2 Samuel 13:39 really stood out to me. It says, "And King David, now reconciled to Amnon's death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom." I started thinking about David as a father. Here we have two sons who did terrible things. Amnon committed rape and Absalom committed murder. Yet when Amnon died, David still wept bitterly and mourned for days. After Absalom fled, David missed him and wanted him to return. Even after the terrible things his sons did, he was still their father and he still loved them and he longed for a reconciled relationship with them.

I loved how Proverbs 16:6 tied into this: "Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin." The only hope that Absalom had for a restored relationship with David was if David decided to forgive him. And the only reason David would decide to forgive his son was if he loved him unconditionally. Unfortunately, Absalom never made the choice to accept forgiveness and be reconciled to his father. We will read about how his life ended up on another day.

Fortunately for us, we have the chance to make the right choice. The relationship between David and his sons is just like the relationship between God and us. We do terrible things everyday. And yet God still loves us and longs for a reconciled relationship with us. No matter what sins we commit, this will always be the truth.