"Deepening Your Spritual Life" V

II Samuel 13:1-19:8

I must apologize for an extremely busy day and am only logging in this blog very late tonight. I have added to the assigned reading so that you will have a fuller picture of the tragic relationship between David and Absalom. Trying to keep David's family straight is a challenge. Chapter 13 tells the horrifying story of the rape of David's daughter Tamar by Amnon, David's first-born. Phyllis Trible, famous Old Testament Scholar out of Union Theological Seminary, includes this in her book Texts of Terror. Jonadab, Amnon's brother is also involved hatching the plan for the rape. Following the rape, Amnon throws her out into the streets and she moves in with her full brother, Absalom. Interestingly, David takes no action against his son for his criminal actions. Chapter 13:21-29 tells the story of Absalom's revenge against his step-brother. Following the murder of Amnon, Absalom flees and stays away three years.

Chapter 14 tells how Joab tries to bring the father and son back together. It seems that David really wants to reconcile with Absalom, but at the same time, pride will not let him. Once Absalom is brought back to Jerusalem, he still is not permitted to see his father's face. Notice the description of Absalom's looks in 14:25-26. The story is heightened by the description of his gifts and potential. Eventually, Absalom's deep seated anger becomes a plot to overthrow David as king. The story of David's flight and the eventual demise of Absalom in chapters 15-18 is rivetingly tragic. The grief of David over the loss of his son strikes at the heart of every parent, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you -- O Absalom , my son, my son!"

Psalm 3

The heading attributes this Psalm to David while he was in flight from the armies of Absalom. Absalom had cornered the leadership in Jerusalem and David was in real danger of being killed. Yet verses 5-6 share that David still takes confidence in the LORD and he is able to sleep at night. Read together, this Psalm and the II Samuel passage gives us a picture of the conflicted feelings of David. He is a king who must defend himself, his kingdom and its citizens, but he is also a dad. He grieves that their relationship has been sour for a long time and they never have been able to put things back together. All David can do is hang on to the grace and mercy of God. Sometimes in our broken relationships, that may be all we can do, as well. That's not the answer David wanted nor is it the one we want. But the good news even when loved ones choose a path of sin or even betrayal, God doesn't abandon us and is able to get us through.