2 Samuel 13:23 – 39 “Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons. And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?”
“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.
“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
“Why should he go with you?” the king asked.
But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons. (Some sources add that Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.)
Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”
So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each one fled on his mule. While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left!”
Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, along the side of the hill. (And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.”)
So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have arrived! It is just as your servant said.”
And as he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.
Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. (Geshur was a kingdom east of the Jordan River and Absalom’s mother was a Geshurite princess.) But David mourned for his son every day.
After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years. And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.”
It sounds like a Bollywood soap opera! Ever since David’s son Amnon raped his half – sister Tamar and then rejected her, Tamar’s brother Absalom has been scheming to get revenge. If David had punished Amnon for violating Tamar, Absalom might have been satisfied; however, some sources indicate that Amnon was David’s first – born son, and David loved him so he refused to punish him. Besides, everybody knew that David had sent for Bathsheba in the middle of the night and had then forced her to have sex with him. Everybody also knew that David had then arranged for Bathsheba’s loyal husband to be killed in battle. At this point, even if David attempted to discipline Amnon, Amnon could have thrown David’s own misdeeds back in his face. David has no moral ground on which he can stand to discipline anybody at this point.
Absalom is shearing sheep and as tradition demands, he arranges for a feast and invites his father and the entire family. David sensibly replies that the entire court would be too much of a burden. Next, Absalom urges the king to send Amnon and his brothers and half – brothers. The predictable happens: Absalom gets Amnon drunk and then has him murdered. David’s other sons take off for Jerusalem. Meanwhile, somebody tells David that all his sons have been murdered. David is distraught, tears his clothes, and falls down on the ground in despair. But then Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, speaks up, saying that only Amnon is dead and that Absalom has been planning this ever since Amnon raped Tamar.
Hmmmmm! Where have we heard of Jonadab before? Jonadab was the same dude who gave bad advice to Amnon in the first place! Allegedly, Jonadab and Amnon were great buddies. When Amnon was lusting after Tamar, Jonadab was the one who suggested that Amnon fake illness and then beg David to send Tamar to fix food for him. Obviously, Jonadab knew what Amnon was going to do to Tamar. Now Jonadab is virtuously informing David that Absalom has been planning revenge ever since the rape took place. Jonadab is the very model of a politician, of whom it might be said that you know when he is lying and manipulating; his lips are moving. Jonadab is David’s nephew, and there may be some strong residual resentment among David’s brothers that God did not choose one of them to become king after Saul. Certainly, Jonadab has attached himself to the court and is now doing anything he can to maintain a sphere of malignant influence.
APPLICATION: What a mess! The prophet Nathan told David that the sword would never depart from his house and that God would raise up adversity against David from his own house. Now that prophecy has begun to manifest, and this is only the beginning. Things are about to get much worse for David’s household. When did Jonadab gain entry into the court? It’s possible that as long as David remained righteous and virtuous, Jonadab couldn’t gain entry because he felt the holiness of God in the court. But once David sinned with Bathsheba, that protective holiness was no longer there, and Jonadab slithered in to work his mischief.
Actions have consequences. Even when we repent, our actions will still affect all those around us, and the results will be horrific. David has ignored his responsibilities as a father and as a leader and has yielded to lust, abusing his royal power. Now David’s family is suffering. As I am writing this, the ministry of an internationally – known megachurch is unraveling. Nobody can tell what the final toll will be from the Hillsong Church scandals; however, the New King James translation for 2 Samuel 12:14 seems to apply. “However, because of this deed, you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” Other translations say, “you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord;” however, that translation fails to indicate the spiritual and emotional tsunamis that evil deeds naturally generate.
There are many lessons for all of us in this story, but the chief one is this: You cannot sin in a vacuum. Your sins have consequences, not only for you but for all around you. There are moral absolutes, and when you violate those, things will fall apart, not only for you, but for your family and for those around you. May God help us to keep our eyes always on Him, so that we do not follow David’s example!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, every one of us can easily fall into the same traps that caught David. Help us to always look to You for guidance and not to be swayed by our own emotions or lusts. Help us to remember that our friends, our family members, and those we work with are watching us, and that our actions may sway them in a right or wrong direction. We pray in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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