Jonadab’s crafty scheme and Amnon’s sin against Tamar, opened the door of violence within David’s family and throughout the kingdom. 2 Samuel 13 & 14
22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar. 2 Samuel 13
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 NASB
Whatever we continually dwell on in our hearts, our inner beings, will eventually surface in our lives. Absalom carried hatred for Amnon in his heart and was determined to get revenge on him.
23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep-shearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, ‘Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his attendants please join me?’
Absalom asked the king to join him at shearing time but David declined; then he asked for Amnon and the king’s sons to come. David consented and the trap was set (just as it had been for Tamar, two years before). Absalom told his men to wait until Amnon was intoxicated and then kill him, which they did. He’d kept his anger hidden for two years and now he took revenge. His inner life must have been full of anger and bitterness throughout this time. Another verse from Proverbs 26:27 reads,
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. NIV
27Malice backfires, spite boomerangs. MSG
Basically, we’re going to reap what we sow. Don’t let destructive things/thoughts take root in our hearts, because sooner or later they’ll manifest in our lives.
David initially believed all his sons were dead (we shouldn’t accept important things without checking them, very relevant today!) but the crafty man Jonadab told the king it was Amnon who’d died.
34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.
37 Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.
38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there for three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death.
Absalom fled to his mother’s father and stayed there for three years; reminiscent of Jacob fleeing to his mother’s brother, Laban, after stealing the blessing. He’d got his revenge but his whole life had been disrupted, he had to leave his family and his home. He probably didn’t care because he was so bent on getting revenge on Amnon. David had really lost two sons, Amnon was dead and Absalom was gone. God is always ready to forgive, may be hard for some to accept, and He alone is the giver of life.
For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ Hebrews 10:30
Keep your heart free from bitterness and malice, THEY BEAR BAD FRUIT.
38 Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. AMPC
The Lord has promised to bless those who bless and with the same measure that we bless. Why not sow into Father’s Love Ministry today and reap His blessing, it’s a sure promise. Donate now on our webpage;
fathersloveministry.co.uk
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God bless and keep you today.