The story of Tamar…
As we read in 2 Samuel 13:9, Tamar, David's daughter and, a princess is raped by her step brother Amnon. How does the world around her deal with that? Tamar is advised not to make the rape public, to keep silent. She is left to live with her big secret, and she became a desolate woman. This incident became a life sentence for her. Absalom, her brother, doesn't express any feelings, doesn't seem like he has a lot to say, but, in silence, builds hate in his heart and eventually kills his brother. David is angry but does absolutely nothing about the situation. He fails as a father. I am sure Tamar felt unimportant, guilty, and dead. This was such an unfair situation for this young girl.
David doesn't take any action but hopes like many of us that through some magic means things will just work themselves out. I heard someone say that, when we fail to take action in matters that are important to God, we eventually stop hearing the voice of God. Inaction has a high price.
The world failed Tamar but Jesus came to all the Tamars in history, men and women, to give them life, rich, abundant life, and to give them hope (John 10:10). No matter the past, we don't have to become depressed or crushed by grief. The world might have turned us into a Tamar, but Jesus made us the sons and daughters of the Absolute King (John 1:12-13); we have a royal heritage. David failed Tamar, but our Father will never fail us: "He will never leave you nor forsake you."(Deuteronomy 31:6). He loves us with an unfailing love, an everlasting love. He knows exactly what kind of love we need, he knows how to heal us and restore each one of us, no matter how unique our case is.
Jesus came to make each story a success story. God can turn any past into a purpose. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11.) "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9.)
I wish I could go back in history and tell Tamar that there is hope, that her life doesn't need to be over and that I understand. I cannot do that, but how many Tamars are around me today?…
In Christ,
Anca
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