120 - David and his family

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Samuel 12: 26-31 - 1 Chronicles 20: 1-13
2 Samuel 13: 1 - 39, 14: 1-33
Psalm 21: 1-13

When reading today's word and realizing that we are not much different in family life as it was in David's time. They seemed to have had also a lot of trouble bringing up their kids. I think also in those days children and respect went hand in hand and the fear of the Lord was a constant reminder to them to obey and honour their parents. It must have been heart braking to find out that one of your sons raped your daughter and then a couple of years later one of your sons then gets the rapist son murdered because of hate of what he had done to the sister. Very sad indeed.


And so the story goes... David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And David's son Amnon had not a good desire on this Tamar all he wanted was to bed her so he went to his friend Jonadab and this Jonadab gave some ill advise in what to do to get her to his bed. This Amnon followed this friends instructions by playing ill and then asking his father to send Tamar to his room bake bread and feed him by her hand. So David obliged and Tamar was sent for and did what was required by her and so the evil plot to gain Tamar into his bed began and this poor girl begged him not to do it but Amnon in his state of want raped her and then got disgusted by her and chased her out of his room. My thoughts on this I find this man a self centered man a man one could not trust.Absalom, Tamar's brother finds out and he shelters her in his home but that was not the end of that as this made Absalom very bitter and angry that his brother could do such a thing to his beautiful sister. David finds out about this rape and he was furious. I do note here in these chapters it does not say what David did to his son? I wonder what I would have done in those days...?
The matter does not rest there as with Absalom a few years later his sheep shearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom then invited the king and his servants to go with him but the king declined his invitation but begged for his brother Amnon to go with them. David was a bit hesitant about it but decided to let him go.
Now Absalom puts his plan into action and tells his young men to watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine and then strike him and kill him and not to be afraid as he would take the blame for the killing.
Then deceit comes into action by telling the king that all his sons are dead not even one of them have survived Strange thing to tell the king and I wonder why? So in response to this news David stood up and tore his clothes and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. But Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, told David My lord must not think they have all been killed it is only Amnon that is dead. And he told David that Absalom has planned this since he disgraced his sister Tamar.  With all this going on Absalom fled to Talmai son of Ammihud king of Geshur where he stayed here 3 years. It must have been very hard for David mourning for one son then grieving for the loss of the living whom you know was just doing what he felt was right in protecting his sister. The love of this brother must have been beautiful.
Absalom is persuaded to return by his father but David still does not want to see his face then a woman is sent by Joab to tell him her life's story very similar to what is happening in David's life but because David still did not want to see Absalom, Absalom failed to see the reason for his return if his father refuses to see him. And so Joab speaks with David and David then summoned Absalom who came to the king and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom. A beautiful ending to such a tragic story in the life of David's family. 


David and Joab also capture Rabbah and he took the crown from the head of their king and it was placed on David's head. The crown weighing 75 pounds of gold and a precious stone in it.

David writes a Psalm of victory 21: 1-13
13 Be exalted, Lord in Your strength; we will sing and praise your might.

Blessings for a beautiful Lord's day
Kathleen.